Feature: A Little Bit of Magic
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Discovering Little Free Libraries Just in Time for Summer Reading By Brooke Strickland
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nyone who has been immersed in a good book knows the special magic of a story. In neighborhoods all around Clark County, Little Free Libraries are sparking imaginations and bringing enchantment to readers young and old, right in their own neighborhoods.
Simple Beginnings
In 2009, Todd Bol, a Wisconsin resident, built a model of a one-room schoolhouse and filled it with books. He fastened it to the top of a post and placed it in his front yard. People loved it so much that he started making more to give out to friends. After some discussion with one particular friend, they decided to set a goal of having 2,508 Little Free Libraries in four years. That initial goal was exceeded in just a year and a half, and in 2012, Little Free Library officially became a registered nonprofit organization. Today, there are a more than 100,000 registered “little” libraries in more than 100 countries.
Little Free Libraries around Town
If you are in the mood to go explore with your kids, check out the library map at www.littlefreelibrary.org. Simply type in your zip code and see how many registered libraries pop up in your area. Then, grab a few books of your own that you are willing to share, hit the road and see what kind of books you can find. Chances are, you will discover a handful of other libraries that aren’t registered with the organization, too. Downtown Vancouver (especially the Hough neighborhood) is home to several different mini libraries that are regularly stocked. Next to Simply Sweets on Washington Street, there is a large red
Little Free Libraries found around Clark County. Photos by the author.
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • June 2021
and white mini library full of all sorts of genres. A couple minutes away on the corner of 23rd and Harney Street, another library always has kids’ books, fiction and non-fiction books on hand. Heading up toward Hazel Dell, one registered library sits at Lakeshore Athletic Club, and another one can be found on the campus of the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Washington, next to Hazel Dell Elementary School. In Camas, you can find one on the perimeter of Crown Park. continued on page 14
