Read on

Little Free Libraries prove popular

with readers throughout community

Julie Brown, Staff Writer

Little Free Libraries are popular attractions
throughout the entire area, maintained
by Rotary clubs, the YMCA and churches. 

When Dick Schmidt of Plymouth became a Rotarian, he wanted to serve his community both locally and worldwide.
Schmidt, a sales representative, found the Rotary Club of Plymouth A.M.'s work inspiring. A Rotary focus is literacy, so club members researched the Little Free Library initiative.
“Supporting reading was a natural for us. The idea  behind the Little Free Libraries is to put books close to residents and make it easy and free to get a book and read.”

The book-sharing concept isn't new, although the Little Free Library initiative has taken off. Neighbors, clubs, churches, businesses and others have set up the small libraries with the idea of sharing books for children, teens and adults.
Plymouth A.M. Rotarians bought, decorated and installed a Little Free Library at the Community Financial Credit Union on Harvey Street in Plymouth. Club member Jeanne Knopf DeRoche, also of Plymouth, noted the grant support from the credit union.
The same concept - of an enclosed case filled with books in a public area that allows people to pick a book, read it and keep it or return it for someone else to enjoy - has been employed by other groups and organizations.
A local take on the national movement is in Romulus, where the city public library partnered with the Rotary Club and artists to provide four “Read Boxes” of books in four city parks, said library Director Patty Braden.
Last May, the Belleville Rotary Club unveiled its first Little Free Library in Victory Park next to the gazebo.
Schmidt said in Plymouth the Rotarians stocked the library initially and were pleased to see it used so much.
 A later presentation on the Mariners Inn in Detroit at the Plymouth A.M. Rotary prompted members to add a Detroit location at that nonprofit, which works to help homeless people and those with addiction.
“One of our members checks it regularly to keep it clean and make sure the books are appropriate,” Schmidt said. The CFCU staff helps as well.
The Mariners site in Detroit is also well-used and popular.
“We stocked this library with books. Those books were taken quickly. We then refilled the library on a regular basis. That library now is seeing books being added by neighbors in the area. We are pleased to see this library starting to be self-sustaining.”
On Deer Street in Plymouth, Living Peace Church members put a Little Free Library on their church lawn some three years ago.
“When I read about free libraries I thought our church would be a perfect location. Our goal was to begin with books of peace and justice issues. It did start that way but of course as books are swapped in and out that has changed. It was a wonderful project where everyone in the church participated in some way or another,” said Becky Copenhaver of Living Peace Church.
Copenhaver, a Canton Township resident, added, “One member crafted the boxes - one for adults and one for children. We all helped paint them and of course donating books to begin with. It has been such a successful project as the turnover of books is amazing and our upper floor is being stocked with books that I'll switch out depending on season or any new books we get. We wanted to advance literacy in the community. We are very proud of the boxes.”
Both the Wayne-Westland Salvation Army on Venoy in Westland and nearby Jefferson-Barns Community Vitality Center also maintain outdoor Little Free Libraries which get regular use. The Norwayne Community Citizens Council supports the Jefferson-Barns effort.
The website www.littlefreelibrary.org has background, including a map to locate Little Free Library sites. It notes some aren't registered with the organization, founded by the late Todd H. Bol over 10 years ago and based in Hudson, WI.
The worldwide Little Free Library effort has garnered support by businesses as well as the American Library Association.