Community A-Z Master Doc PDF-1

COMMUNITY A-Z

After-Action Report 2024-2025

Senior participants Nearly 50% of participants were seniors. Many were recruited on a 1-on-1 basis, but slowly overtime as they stopped in the office to share updates and ask questions, relationships between seniors began to develop and create a community that openly shares ideas and supports each other.

This lovely soul is Petie. On Wednesdays, he takes his trike around town and delivers books to the local little libraries in Princeton.

He built a kit on his own and placed it near his residence. Slowly he is adding details to make it look like a cyberman from Doctor Who.

A senior living in local subsidized housing who is part of a local wood carving group hand carved and decorated this little library. It is front and center in the lobby of the Bureau County Senior Center, which provides many services for local seniors.

Becky, a volunteer learning how to navigate disability, needed something she could do while at home. Using a mixture of decoupage and wood-burning, she designed this little library that is themed for her favorite author, Edgar Allen Poe.

Youth Participants

While our project was aimed for youth of all ages, we had approximately 20 kids and teens in North Central Illinois working together to build, install, and maintain their little free libraries, pantries, and galleries.

PRINCETON HIGH SCHOOL

BRIGHT BEGINNINGS

WALNUT WINNERS 4-H

ZEARING CHILD ENRICHMENT CENTER

Two groups of students from the local high school attended building days and built and painted 2 little libraries.

The local 4-H group worked together to pick out and build a cabinet for a free pantry located at the Walnut Public Library.

The little library for the early childhood program provider serving the Princeton Elementary School District.

Located in Princeton, this little library has a garden roof and provides books for children and parents, as well as educational resources.

Building, painting & a peak Behind the Scenes Matt, Owner of True Leaves Bookshop, helps to put together some kits for those who didn’t have what they needed to do it on their own.

We believe in the right to repair! While building and installing new littles was the focus of this project, we also gave some TLC to libraries like this one warped with time and overtaken by lichens and mold.

Princeton High School students had fun over two building days where they built two libraries. Then, they designed and painted the libraries (in Tiger blue and white, of course) a After painting the libraries in their school colors, we were able to have a conversation with them about reading and literacy. One of the libraries they built is posted at their school and replaces the old one that was falling into disrepair.

Our summer intern, artist Jacklynn Cartwright made the art for these beautiful folding “envelopes” that we used to promote and launch the project. What could this be? Fun!

One volunteer spent two afternoons building a stockpile of posts for the littles being installed.

LOCAL HISTORY & LANDMARKS This beautiful Little Free Library is a mosaic piece designed by a local artist, Susan Burton, for the the Mary Uthoff Walkway in Princeton, IL. The walkway is a public art projected supported by the City of Princeton and the Princeton Public Art Commission.

The Mini-Matson is twin to the historic Sash Stalter Matson Building. The detailed replica of the 112-year-old building was designed and built by local artist and woodworker Taylor Lubbs, who wanted to celebrate and preserve its architectural beauty and history as Princeton’s first public library.

The Red Covered Bridge is one of Bureau County’s most beloved historic spots. Sadly, it was nearly destroyed in a semi-truck accident. This “Little” is an homage to one of the six remaining covered bridges in the State of Illinois. The Princeton Rotary auctioned this piece off to its happy steward, nd the city is discussing placement.

Bureau & LaSalle county Littles A little red caboose library at the Bureau County Food Pantry — one of the most used libraries in town!

The Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in PeruLasalle repurposed this shelf in their shop that is easily accessible.

This little library outside the Prouty building in Princeton, right on Main Street and a block down from our historic Apollo movie theater.

Find minimasterpieces galore at the little free art gallery outside the North Central Illinois ARTworks in LaSalle.

This little library is one of two libraries installed in pollinator gardens in Princeton, IL. This one is dedicated to pollinator conservation and sustainable gardening.

One of the residential libraries that was installed as part of the project, complete with a bench to read and chat!

Chatting benches are part of our future plans for this project.

The Little Blue Dress on Main Street in Princeton had a little blue library to match, but the owner decided she needed one for her home as well! As part of the project, we gave a little library to the United Way to help raise funds, and that was how it found its way to its new home.

Questions? Contact us!

Midwest Partners 701 N. Main Street Princeton, IL 61356 midwestpartners56@gmail.com 608-886-2703

Don’t forget to view the Community A-Z page our website, which is currently in development for the next phase of this project.

midwestpartners.org