Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Nonprofit creates libraries at laundromats
Volunteers with the Laundromat Library League stock laundromats with children’s books.
WEST CHESTER » Rather than riding around in laundry carts or playing a game on mom or dad’s phone, children at the Wash ‘n Fold Laundromat, at the Gay Street Plaza, are reading.
Organized almost four years ago, the Laundromat Library League, with 215 volunteers, stocks 64 sites in Pennsylvania, and 112 places in 12 states, with children’s books.
Kids are reading Bert and Ernie, Barney and about Winnie the Pooh at laundromats. Each book has a sticker that reads, “Read it. Love it. Pass it on.”
Eleven-year-old, fifthgrader, Becca Taylor-Storm is a Girl Scout in West Chester Troop 41483.
She has helped collect books and is a regular reader. Her favorite book is “Stargirl” by Jerry Spinelli.
“The kids don’t bug their parents,” she said about the libraries housed in colorful cardboard boxes, and when full host 60 books each.
Carol Scott is the owner of Wash ‘n Fold and has supported the children’s laundromat libraries for three years.
“They gravitate toward the books and parents can do their wash because the kids are occupied,” Scott said.
Peggy Staarman is president of the Chester County Chapter of American Association of University Women, which has helped collect some of 45,000 books donated during the past three and a half years.
“Our mission is to advance equity for women and girls through education, philanthropy and research,” Staarman said about the AAUW.
Maureen Mauer, vice president of Girl Experience and Properties of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Girl Scouts, said the program helps scouts fulfill service hour commitments and keeps them vested in the community.
Arlene Rengert helped found the nonprofit laundromat library league. The first outlet was located at Polyclean laundromat on Hannum Avenue. The organization operates on a $3,000 annual budget, which does not include book purchases.
Spanish language kids’ books are in short supply and the organization often purchases those books. The library does not accept adult books.
Volunteers stock the boxes every two weeks. Volunteers range in age from youth to over 80.
The Girl Scouts and university women, retired faculty at West Chester University, the Chester County Literacy Association, West Chester Area Senior Center, and several schools and churches participate.
In addition to laundromats, the group places children’s books in waiting rooms, at the West Chester Food Pantry and Children’s Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Coatesville. The West Chester Friends School stores books in a basement and gives volunteers a place to sticker books and construct boxes.
“We’re not just in laundromats,” Rengert said, “We go where people spend time.”
“We want the kids to take books home,” Rengert said. “They can bring them back if they want.
“We’re trying to get the children’s books to the population of children who live in homes that may have few
or no children’s books,” Rengert said.
The nonprofit’s biggest need is to recruit laundromats. As soon as the owner has given permission, within two weeks, libraries can be placed at participating sites.
For more information, or to donate, go to www.laundromatlibraryleague.org or email to laundromatlibrary@gmail.com.