TOP : LEFT : JOESAN DICHE ; CENTER ; CANDI SARY ; BELOW : BARBARA DEMARCO-BARRETT ; SUZI WHITE
and founded the Little Free Library nonprofit organization three years later . Although he died last year , his legacy lives on in this global literacy movement ; this year marks the 10th since Bol ’ s library was built and already there are more than 80,000 other Little Free Libraries in over 90 countries around the world .
With more than 12 in Newport Beach — seven in Corona del Mar alone — and plenty of others in neighboring cities like Laguna Beach , Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach , visitors and locals alike will have access to reading material through the end of summer , into the cozy fall season and beyond . So whether you opt for a sunny , seaside read on the sand , an afternoon story under shady trees in the park or a literary adventure from the comfort of your own home , there are enough books to go around .
A LOVE OF READING
With so many different libraries popping up around the county , it ’ s natural that the motivations behind each are as unique as the books that are placed inside them . Many of those starting their own Little Free Libraries have a background in education , so it ’ s only natural that they would want to promote literacy .
“ I was an elementary teacher for 43 years , so reading has been a huge part of my life and [ I ] feel that it is so important for everyone to have … access to books ,” says Wendy Frankel , who now manages not only a Little Free Library on the Balboa Peninsula but the Friends of the Library Bookstore at the Newport Beach Central Library as well .
Another avid reader , Dr . Peter LePort , runs a little library of his own in Corona del Mar , citing books as valuable tools for learning as well as an enjoyable way to pass the time . While he works as a surgeon , LePort played an active role in his children ’ s education , helping to develop a homeschool program for them before going on to open LePort Montessori , a chain of schools throughout California and New York City .
There is even a Little Free Library on the combination school / church campus at Christ Church by the Sea on Balboa Boulevard , launched by a group of retired teachers who wanted to support literacy in the peninsula community .
But education isn ’ t the only inspiration for these streetside collections . Growing up with parents who didn ’ t read books , Barbara DeMarco- Barrett , a local author , says she was introduced to the literary world by her half-sister . Now , she has found joy in having a library of her own and is happy to provide local children with access to books . “ When I was a kid , libraries were so important to me ,” she says . “… In Corona del Mar , I see so many parents with strollers on cellphones ; I just wanted to have books in … [ the children ’ s ] awareness .”
Another writer , Candi Sary , began to seek out Little Free Libraries every time she traveled , placing a copy of her own book inside . “ It reminded me of being a kid and going to the library to pick out a special book ,” Sary says . “… After seeing so many wonderfully creative ways people set up their little libraries , I was inspired to get one of my own .”
These libraries have continued to spread throughout the city , helping to encourage reading among both adults and children .
LAVISH LIBRARIES
One of the greatest things about Little Free Libraries is the fact that the owner has control over how they present the books . While there are kits
Little Free Library boxes in front of private homes
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