By Hayleigh Gowans
Staff Writer
Green Lakes State Park is a place where thousands of visitors come each year for recreation, relaxation and camping, and now, those visitors will be able to experience those activities while being exposed to new literature through the addition of two Little Free Library boxes that were placed at the park during the fifth annual I Love My Parks Day.
Little Free Library boxes were installed through an effort of volunteers from the Fayetteville Free library and were recently unveiled near the Green Lakes boathouse and a double-wide one at the campground area. These boxes will provide a place for visitors to “take a book, leave a book,” as well as borrow other items like puzzles, cards and board games.
“The concept of Little Free Libraries is to create and support open and easy access to reading materials in all areas and unlikely places. It is directly in line with the Fayetteville Free Libraries’ mission to provide free and open access to ideas, information and transformative experiences,” said Sue Considine, executive director of the FFL. “We see the Little Free Libraries as the perfect opportunity to partner with Green Lakes State Park and in doing so bring even more unique learning and social opportunities to the community.”
Little Free Library is a movement that was started in 2009 to promote the exchange of books by setting up hand-crafted structures in community areas where people can “take a book, leave a book.” To be officially called a Little Free Library, a free book exchange must have an official charter sign, charter number or listing on the Little Free Library map of the world. According to the Little Free Library website, as of January 2016, there were more than 36,000 registered Little Free Libraries in all 50 states and 70 countries.
Mike Cimino, technology integration specialist for the Fayetteville Free Library, took on the task to put together a team of volunteer to both design and construct the two structures using the tools the FFL has in their Fab Lab, including CAD software, laser cutters and hand tools.
Cimino said that Green Lakes State Park is an ideal location for Little Free Library boxes because many people come there to use the facilities and often will have time to relax and read a book. The design of the two boxes installed were designed to be modeled after the architecture of the actual FFL.
Allie Fauer, one of the volunteers who worked on both the design and construction stages of the project, said she believes it is a good addition to the park and will be useful to patrons.
“The Little Free Libraries help create a spot for people who have a similar interest to come together,” said Fauer.
To learn more about the Little Free Library movement, go to littlefreelibrary.org.
