Little Free Libraries need youth books to replenish stock
CHICO » The call from Chico Friends of the Library is a simple one. Consider donating youth books to the Little Free Libraries.
Children’s books are disappearing from the 11 Little Free Libraries that Chico Friends of the Library maintain, according to Elizabeth Bergthold of the nonprofit Friends organization.
“With many people staying closer to home, the Little Free Libraries are getting lots of attention,” Bergthold wrote to this newspaper.
The Little Free Libraries are tiny, freestanding receptacles for books that often resemble small stores or houses, with windows and doors, planted on a post in a lawn, business area or park.
The group is happy to see the books used, but had hoped books would be returned once read, or new ones donated. That hasn’t been the case, she noted.
“We need everything, from board books to teenage books. Some of the Free Little Library sites I visited had no children’s books whatsoever.”
Part of the problem has been the halt of the Saturday book sale at the Chico library, she said. The Friends’ organization would often collect donated youth books to distribute to the freestanding libraries scattered throughout town.
Without new donations — either books or money — Chico Friends of the Library is trying
to manage the gaps. Hoping to make it easy, the organization
wants residents to check their closets and bookshelves, and take the books by any of its Little Free Libraries.
The 11 libraries the Friends maintain are located
at:
• Oak Way Park off West Eighth Avenue;
• DeGarmo Community Park, near Shasta School on The Esplanade;
• 574 E. 12th St.;
• Boucher Street Market, 1406 Boucher St.;
• Community Park, 1010 Cleveland Ave.;
• Has Beans Coffee and Tea, 1078 Humboldt Ave.;
• Dorothy Johnson Center, 775 E. 16th St.;
• Baroni Park, Baroni Drive east of Bruce Road;
• Peterson Park, Denali and Rollins Lake Drive;
• Rotary Park, 1532 Broadway St.;
• Hancock Park, off Marigold Avenue.
A Friends team of volunteers handy with hammers and nails have been maintaining the little libraries, which have sometimes suffered from vandalism.
To make them more visible, Chico artist Christine MacShane has painted several of them.
One at Oak Way Park has a space theme which MacShane calls “Adventure.” There’s also themes of whimsy, mystery, and “The Jungle Book.”
Financial donations are also welcome, Bergthold said. Checks can be mailed to Chico Friends of the Library, PO Box 6952, Chico 95927.
While the Chico Friends of the Library isn’t opening any new lending houses, those interested can go to www. littlefreelibrary.org for do-it-yourself details. There are other Free Little Libraries that are created and maintained by residents or neighborhoods as well.