Give a book, take a book: Little Libraries initiative speading across county
Kelly Tunney | Herald-Standard
Neubauer’s Flowers has sponsored a Little Free Library, a small covered bookshelf that people are invited to use on a give-a-book, take-a-book basis, in front of the old Central School on Church Street in Uniontown
Neubauer’s Flowers has sponsored a Little Free Library, a small, covered bookshelf that people are invited to use on a give-a-book, take-a-book basis, in front of the old Central School on Church Street in Uniontown.
Kelly Tunney
Kelly Tunney | Herald-Standard
Neubauer’s Flowers has sponsored a Little Free Library, a small covered bookshelf that people are invited to use on a give-a-book, take-a-book basis, in front of the old Central School on Church Street in Uniontown
For a small library, the unveiling of the first Little Free Library in Fayette County at Central School in Uniontown earlier this month drew a large crowd that included local and state leaders.
The countywide initiative, launched earlier this month by Fay-Penn Economic Development Council’s second Fayette Leaders Academy cohort, will result in the placement of 15 Little Free Libraries throughout the county. Locations include the Cobblestone Hotel in Connellsville, The Fayette County Courthouse, Nemacolin Castle in Brownsville, the Fairchance Borough Building in Fairchance and the Jumonville Christian Camp & Retreat Center in Hopwood. State Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Jefferson Township, who could not be present at the project launch, donated a children’s book to each location.
“It was just a matter of hours before we had all of the sponsors,” said Jessica Firmstone, Fay-Penn’s loan program coordinator and member of the 2017 Fayette Leaders Academy.
Little Free Libraries are freestanding structures on poles that look like small houses that can hold anywhere from 50 to 100 books. Users are encouraged to take a book and leave a book for the next person. And unlike traditional libraries, there is no limit on how long a book can be kept. Also, there are no fines for overdue items.
“We should have all 15 boxes installed in the next couple of weeks,” Firmstone said. The boxes were built by students at Fayette County Career & Technical Institute, she added.
Little Free Libraries is a Wisconsin nonprofit started in 2009 by Todd Bol, who built a miniature model of a one-room school house as a tribute to his mother. He filled the school with books.
The model proved popular and quickly grew through word of mouth. There are expected to be 100,000 Little Free Libraries worldwide by the end of this year. The libraries, which are anticipated to lend 16 million books this year, can now be found in all 50 states and 70 countries, according to its website, www.littlefreelibraries.org.
“Students who read for fun often have higher test scores,” said state Rep. Matt Dowling, R-Uniontown. “These Little Libraries will celebrate the written word.”
Fayette County commissioner, Dave Lohr said he thought it was great education was being made a high priority.
“These libraries will open many doors,” Lohr said. “Education is a key factor in being able to help others.”
Other members of the 2017 Fayette Leaders Academy include Justin Grimm, CTI; Tiffany Guittap, WestBanco; Diana Hardy, Goodwill; Jared Rebick, CTI; Gary Weaver, Somerset Trust; Steven Wilt, Penn State Fayette and Alexis Zawelensky, QuatriniRafferty. The cohort was led by Heather Fani, Fay-Penn’s workforce development coordinator.