Little Free Library helps fuel love of reading in Kidron
The tiny and efficient Little Library stands at 13497 Hackett Road in Kidron on the northwest side of the Kidron Community Historical parking lot.
When Jan Hilty approached the Kidron Community Historical Society about having a Little Free Library on site, she figured the answer would be no. Instead, the reply, “It’s just what we stand for — education,” gave her the go-ahead to do so.
According to www.littlefreelibrary.org, Little Free Library is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world.
In 2009 Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin built a model of a one-room schoolhouse. It was in memory of his mother, who was a teacher and loved to read. He lined up books inside and put it on a post in his front yard.
People around him loved having easy access to books, so he built some more and gave them away. Rick Brooks from UW-Madison joined efforts in the “take a book, share a book” idea, and together the two started the Little Free Library. Only about 10 years later, as of March 2020, there are more than 100,000 registered Little Free Libraries in all 50 states and 108 countries.
Hilty got the idea of adding one to Kidron through her sister in Texas, who encouraged Hilty to add one to the community.
According to an informal Little Free Library survey taken in 2017, “Three out of four people report they’ve read a book they normally would not have read, 73% of people say they’ve met more neighbors and 92% say their neighborhood feels like a friendlier place.”
When COVID-19 hit and libraries were closed, Hilty knew she wanted to pursue starting one, so she looked online, downloaded a pattern and asked her neighbor to make it. They put the all-weather, 24/7 library up the beginning of July.
The tiny and efficient Little Library stands at 13497 Hackett Road on the northwest side of the Kidron Community Historical parking lot. Here’s how it works: Readers simply look through the books, pick one out that looks interesting and take it, and if they have one to swap, they add it. All genres and age ranges can be placed in the Little Library. Little Free Library book exchanges function on the honor system, and everyone contributes to ensure there are always quality books inside. All books should fit inside with the door securely latched when closed.
Walking or biking to the Free Little Library is a good destination activity, and there are night-time security lights. Hilty is working on getting the Little Library registered on the organization’s website so people can find it, and she hopes the community will use it. “I’m just so excited,” she said.