Take a Book , Share a Book
The Little Free Library movement expands across the state with free books and other quirky items to share . By Annie Sherman
Little Free Libraries have been offering complimentary books in Rhode Island for years . Now more than 100 charming wooden boxes are propped up on posts or fences outside local homes , schools , businesses and churches from Misquamicut to Newport to Cumberland . Katy Westcott took the idea one step further , offering free craft , fiber and art supplies in her new Little Craft Supply Library on Nelson Street in Providence .
The movement to build community , inspire readers and expand book access was started by Todd Bol in Wisconsin in 2009 , and has grown to share 42 million books in more than 100,000
Little Free Libraries across the world . It launched a unique Read in Color program in 2020 to “ distribute books that provide perspectives on racism and social justice ; celebrate BIPOC , LGBTQ + and other marginalized voices ; and incorporate experiences from all identities for all readers .”
Each library and its contents are as unique as its owner . Some build the library kiosk from scratch , while others , like Westcott and Lisa and Bob McNulty , buy the pre-fabricated model from the nonprofit organization . The McNultys painted their Montauk Avenue library in Misquamicut in 2018 with the poem “ Why Read ?” and an illustration from The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein . It grew so much that they added an adjacent children ’ s and young adult book shed . It ’ s also one of 1,725 geocache sites in Westerly , and it has its own blog .
“ Our library is successful because the community of the Misquamicut Fire District and its guests have embraced it . Even though this is technically a beach community , the library is used year-round ,” Lisa McNulty says . “ Our neighbors not only use the library but also help keep it stocked .”
Scouting the state for free libraries is a literary adventure . From Ball O ’ Brien Park on Block Island to the Brain Box on Regina Drive in West Greenwich , or the St . Antoine Library on Rhodes Avenue in North Smithfield to Gaspee Library on East View Street in Warwick ’ s Pawtuxet Village , readers are bound to find something unexpected .
“ We see it as a gift to the community ,” says Claudia Helt , who launched her Weaver Avenue , Newport , library with Susan Barnes last fall using their own collection as well as friends ’ donations , then added reading glasses , children ’ s books , CDs and puzzles . “ We came here from Minneapolis , where everywhere you go there is a library . They ’ re such a delight , and it ’ s wonderful to see someone stop by .” littlefreelibrary . org
Additional Little Free Libraries in Rhode Island :
10 Angel Rd ., Glocester ; 1 Cedar Ln ., Warren ; 1049 Smithfield Ave ., Lincoln ; 109 Shaw Rd ., Little Compton ; 3 Spruce Valley Dr ., N . Scituate ; 374 Farnum Pike , Smithfield ; 31 Dickinson Ave ., North Providence ; 15 Riverside Ave ., Johnston ; 2145 Broad St ., Cranston
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