Little Libraries
Big Impact
The Hill City is one of the newest locations of the Little Free Library project, a brainstorm of Wisconsin resident Todd Bol who created a miniature, free public library system. He ended up starting a movement that now includes an estimated 10,000 small structures.
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The goal is that people who don’t have access to books can come and take a book.” A Little Free Library is simply that: a tiny library placed in a public location that is full of books that are free for the taking. In August, Lynchburg debuted three little libraries located at the Community Market, Riverside Park, and the Ed Page Entrance of the Blackwater Creek Trail. Books are selected by a “Steward,” and depending on the Steward and location, there may be a theme. The Blackwater Creek library has several bird watching books, for instance.
The Lynchburg Public Library and the City’s Parks and Recreation department worked together to
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Lynchburg has four new libraries in town, but if you blink, you might miss them!
establish the first three as a joint literacy and public art project. During “First Friday” in October, WordWorks unveiled a fourth miniature library at their 5th Street location. The books are certainly exciting; but, the structures themselves are a big part of the charm. They’re not just utilitarian boxes, but hand-built labors of love. When the planning committee put out the call for volunteers, Ashley Kershner, the director of marketing for Lynchburg’s Parks and Recreation said, “Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club jumped on it and made these incredible libraries. One is a replica of an Appalachian Trail shelter … [another] is a little barn.” “We want to see it become a public movement,” says Kershner. “I really hope that people choose to do it, whether it’s in their front yard or place of business. I think the more that we have in the community, the better. It’s a fun little idea.” Meridith De Avila Khan is the marketing photographer at Sweet Briar College. A Lynchburg transplant, she lives with her husband and children in their 1893 Victorian in College Hill.
They’re interactive, too! “Patrons” can visit the website: www.littlefreelibrary.org Find more resources or log GPS coordinates, sort of like geocaching. Photos provided by Lynchburg Department of Parks and Recreation