Volunteer

Sharing The Gift Of Reading

You may have seen Little Free Libraries dotting neighborhoods throughout the city. These colorfully decorated, tiny houses on stilts are filled with books, making the joy of reading more accessible for everyone in our community.

Started in 2009 by Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, the Little Free Library (LFL) was created as a tribute to Todd’s mother, a schoolteacher who loved to read. The concept spread, reaching Louisville in 2014 through Mary Sullivan, who was working for Metro United Way and who became a sponsor of the program. Now retired, Mary continues her work coordinating the donation and distribution of books to the 36 Little Free Libraries in Louisville. Mary and her team of volunteers circulate approximately 2,900 books a month, with volunteers refreshing the books every few weeks.

“I like each library to get 40 books — 15-20 for preschool/elementary age, 15 for middle and high schoolers, and five for adults,” Mary says. “Some libraries get more of one kind of book than another if the volunteer servicing that library sees a specific need.”

Al Mortenson has been volunteering with LFL for nine years. He delivers bundles of books every two weeks to libraries in Smoketown, Shelby Park, and West Louisville neighborhoods. He says he knows the communities he serves appreciate his efforts.

“There’s a grandmother who regularly visits the library at Grace Hope Presbyterian Church on Breckenridge Street in Smoketown,” Al says. “She borrows books for her three grandchildren and large-print mysteries for herself. It’s very rewarding knowing you’re making a difference in someone’s life.”

Al says growing up on a farm in rural Minnesota with no access to a library meant he had to wait for the countygovernment-funded bookmobile to make its monthly visit. He and his cousins were regular visitors to the bookmobile, and it had a lifelong impact on them, he says.

“Reading those books had a lasting positive effect on our education,” he says. “I want children growing up in Louisville to have easy access to books right in their own neighborhood. Little Free Libraries gives that to them, and as a volunteer, I do my part to help.”

Both Al and Mary encourage others to find ways to help in the community. Al recommends looking for volunteer opportunities right in your own neighborhood or area of town. He suggests checking the Metro United Way Volunteer Connection at volunteer.metrounitedway.org, which offers a clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities from area nonprofits. He also suggests the Retired Senior Volunteer Program for opportunities that fit your interests.

“I believe there’s a right volunteer opportunity for everyone, though it might take a little searching,” Mary says. “Many seniors have gained, through their employment, volunteering or life experience skills that they could share through volunteering. One doesn’t have to commit to a weekly or monthly opportunity. You can find something that fits into your schedule. I know with a little patience and searching, individuals can find the right volunteer opportunity for them.”

By Kym Voorhees Raque | Photo by Jeff Ivory

Summer 2025 / Today's Transitions