Little Free Library enters the community to promote literacy and the love of reading

While libraries usually evoke an image of large air-conditioned buildings, small new structures similar to bird houses are changing the definition of a library in Park.

Entrepreneurs Todd Bol and Rick Brooks created the Little Free Library organization in 2009 by exploring the idea of a small business containing green practices. This organization sells small libraries that are either raised by a post or hoisted onto a wall with the goal to help build a community around libraries.

These types of libraries usually contain a variety of reading material, but some libraries contain books on a specific subject or theme. Each library has the rule for readers to take one book, and put one back in its place. This generates a continuous cycle of different books in these libraries.

Park’s first Little Free Library sits in front of Mary Ellen Halverson’s house, 3141 Pennsylvania Ave. S. Halverson described herself as the librarian and said her library is for the community.

She said her interest in buying a library began after reading about Little Free Library in the Star Tribune.

“After reading the article I realized that we needed to have one on our block,” Halverson said.

Once it was set up, people began to borrow and replace books in her library. Halverson said she wants her library to be shaped by the community. As books were exchanged through her Little Free Library, Halverson said she started to see the community embrace and understand its importance.

“People realize it’s just about building a community and being connected with each other,” Halverson said. “Books can be a great connector.”

Little Free Library’s ability to bring the community together is paired with the goal of providing accessible reading material. Reading leads to an increase in a person’s positive civic and social action, according to National Endowment of the Arts. These benefits of reading can help people of all ages improve their community.

Halverson went to Half Price Books to purchase books to accommodate all types of readers who may stop by her library.

By containing literature for all reading levels and ages, Halverson said she hopes to help Little Free Library’s mission of promoting literacy throughout the community.

Sophomore Peter Johnson has not used a Little Free Library, but said he believes these structures will help spread books throughout Park.

“Little Free Libraries will promote literacy by providing an easily accessible place in the community for people to get books,” Johnson said.

For some, accessibility is not a problem, but the desire to read may define Little Free Library’s impact on the students in Park.

Junior Mary Pavia said stopping in small local libraries is something she has enjoyed as her love for reading has grown during the years. She said the uniqueness of Little Free Libraries is a great promoter, but she does not believe its literacy goal will be as impactful in Park.

“Little Free Library will probably not be as effective as intended to be for high schoolers because the libraries connect better with older communities,” Pavia said.

Since the establishment of Halverson’s first Little Free Library, larger than normal birdhouses containing a variety of reading material have started to pop up all around St. Louis Park.