High School Senior’s Little Free Library Offers the Gift of Reading During the Pandemic

CAN DO KID High School Senior’s Little Free Library Offers the Gift of Reading During the Pandemic By Terry Jaillet

One of the unfortunate consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic has been the closure of Broward County’s public libraries. Gone are the days when an avid reader could spend the afternoon browsing titles to find her perfect next book. Luckily for us, Archbishop Mccarthy High School Senior, Mackenzie Sprimont was here to help.

Mackenzie built a Little Free Library on Flamingo Road between Saint Mark Catholic Church and New Horizon Methodist Church. It is a wonderful free way for people of all ages to find books and help build community by taking or leaving books. Her library celebrated its one-year anniversary on October 31st and is available to anyone in the community.

Mackenzie first learned of Little Free Libraries during a trip to visit her grandmother in Belgium.

“I have always been a big reader,” commented Mackenzie, “I just finished a book, while visiting my grandmother, and wanted to start another one. That is when I discovered Little Free Libraries.”

Mackenzie quickly learned that Little Free Libraries is a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world. She decided to become involved and opened her own.

“I played tennis since I was little. I started to see Little Libraries and book exchanges all the time when I traveled to tournaments. I thought it would be great to have one at home,” explained Mackenzie.

There aren’t many rules for the library. Community members of all ages are invited to take or leave as many books as they like. The only real requirement is for people to be considerate of others. She also asks that people don’t leave anything offensive, adult-oriented, or disrespectful.

Mackenzie, who was nominated for the Silver Knight Award, plans on attending College beginning next fall. Like many of her classmates, she is not quite sure which school she will attend but has already made arrangements with her brother Brock to continue supporting the library into the future.

Mackenzie was most inspired by seeing the same passion for books in reading in others that she has, “we were promoting the Little Free Library at the Pumpkin Patch and I saw a little boy speaking to his father. He was so excited, exclaiming ‘look, Dad, they’re free! They’re free! I can have as many books as I want.” Thanks to Mackenzie Sprimont, that boy most certainly can.

To borrow or lend a book, stop by the Little Free Library at 5601 S. Flamingo Road, Southwest Ranches. For more information on Little Free Libraries or to find other locations, visit www.littlefreelibary.org

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