GHS Groups Build "Little Free Library"

Little Free Libraries have been popping up in communities around the country since 2009 when Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a model of a one room schoolhouse as tribute to his mother, a former teacher who loved to read, placed it on his front lawn and filled it with books. His neighbors and friends loved it so much that he built several more and gave them away. By 2010, the name “Little Free Library” was established. Rick Brooks with the University of Wisconsin-Madison saw Bol’s project and together they set a goal to build 2,508 Little Free Libraries by the end of 2013. They wound up exceeding that goal in August of 2012, a year and a half before their target date. More than 150,000 little free libraries have been installed worldwide, and the number continues to grow. Today people recognize these little boxes as a place to share good books and bring communities together.

Inspired by Todd Bol’s legacy, two GHS groups independently decided to build a library for one of their service projects and place it somewhere in the community. A National Honor Society group led by Michael Cavanaugh constructed and painted their library, and with permission from city officials, placed the little library in a grassy area next to the parking lot of the Grenada County Office Building at 1240 Fairground Road. The little library is currently filled with books and ready for the community to use.

In addition, Ms. Michelle Downs’ Teacher Education Prep students are designing and building a little library to place at the Parks and Recreation area in April. Once placed, another library will be filled with books ready for the community to share. The students hope the nearby community will see these Little Free Libraries and embrace the motto “Take One, Leave One” for years to come.

For more information on the history and organization of “Little Free Library,” visit https://littlefreelibrary.org/about/history/.