Community Corner

'Take a Book, Leave a Book' at the Little Free Library in Edgeworth

The global movement promotes literacy and community-building with free book exchanges.

Mia Fox remembers reading about the Little Free Library movement in a magazine or on a website and the concept stuck with her. 

"When it came time to choose a project idea for the required 'personal project' at Quaker Valley, I remembered the story I read," said Mia, who is excited to share her love for reading as part of the required project for sophomores.

And after many long days of work and planning, the Little Free Library is stocked and in place at the Chestnut parklet by the Edgeworth borough building.

Though Edgeworth has a thriving literary community, Mia said she felt her project could act as a catalyst to promote reading in younger generations without cost or return dates. 

The Little Free Library is an international movement and operates under the concept of "take a book, leave a book."  The idea is to promote literacy and community-building by supporting free book exchanges.

Little Free Libraries run on the honor system, allowing you to freely take a book and put it back when you're done, or replace it with another. Readers sometimes write notes inside the books so others know where they are coming from.

"People meet, take a book, discuss it with others, and read to their kids, and leave a book. Eventually, the whole community gets involved. Thats what I really wanted for this project," Mia said.  

After researching the project, Mia registered with the organization, and made a formal presentation to Edgeworth council members and borough officials.

She also built the sturdy, waterproof library, stocked it with books and recently installed it in the park, just across the street from Edgeworth Elementary.  

Mia felt the proximity of a box to Edgeworth Elementary would help get the ball rolling. While researching the cause, she said she could distinctly remember how the founders of the movement, Todd Bol and Rick Brooks, described the Little Free Library.

"They called it, 'a water cooler of literacy,' " she said.

The little libraries are popping up across the country and the world. Mia said her hope is that children, teens and parents will enjoy the Little Free Library. 

"Hopefully, once more people learn about it, it will be abuzz with activity," she said. 

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