Kiwanis Club of Barnesville starts Little Free Library
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BARNESVILLE -- The Kiwanis Club of Barnesville has started a new Little Free Library at the Barnesville Library Annex at 611 North Chestnut St.
The Little Free Library is a place where anyone in the community can take a book for free. Community members can either keep the book and turn in another book to take its place or return the book after they are done reading it.
"We were looking for a way to give back to the community," Club President Brock Rogers said.
He said the Kiwanis Club was inspired by seeing other Little Free Libraries locally. Rogers also said the library was funded through a grant from Kiwanis International.
The Little Free Library was installed on Thursday, and Rogers said it already has a couple dozen books.
"We've had about half a dozen people get in touch with us already wanting to donate books," he said.
Rogers said that most of the books currently in the library are geared toward school-aged children, but he said people can donate books for all ages, including adults.
Anyone can donate a book to the Little Free Library. If the library is full, people can contact the Kiwanis Club to make donations. The club posted on its website, "It's a simple way to share the joy of reading with others and help build a stronger community."
Rogers said the Little Free Library was easy to install, and the club hopes to keep the box in good repair and stocked with a variety of books for all ages.
"We plan to check it every day to make sure it stays full," Rogers said.
The club posted on its website, "please help us keep an eye on it, and if you notice anything that needs attention, please contact us and we will take care of it."
Although the Little Free Library is located at the library, it is managed entirely by the Kiwanis Club. The club advises people not to return borrowed from the Barnesville Library to it. Readers must return them to the Barnesville Library.
The Kiwanis Club of Barnesville posted on their website, "we are grateful to the Barnesville Library for allowing us to install our library there."
Little Free Libraries function on the honor system. People do not need to share a book to take one. The club posted, "if you take a book or two from a little library, try to bring some to the library to share when you can. You can even bring the same book back when you are finished with it."
Rogers said the Kiwanis Club of Barnesville has been serving the community for the past 75 years. He said the club is always looking for new members, and anyone interested can attend the club's weekly lunch meetings. The Kiwanis Club of Barnesville meets from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. every Monday at the Main Street Barrel House located at 137 East Main St.
The Kiwanis Club of Barnesville can be contacted on their website at barnesvillekiwanis.org.
Little Free Library is an international nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Its mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-exchange boxes.