Jul
8
2019
The Discovery In A Parking Lot
Posted in Uncategorized 2 Comments
A day was planned with my daughter-in-love and my newest granddaughter.
We planned to meet in the place of Amish buggies.
We met early so we could walk around and enjoy the stillness of the morning.
We intended to have lunch as well.
We arrived within minutes of each other.
It is one of our favorite places to go.
We walked around a little village that has many quaint shops.
We went to a bakery, where Amish women were baking and cooking in a large kitchen.
A few of us were watching as vats of cucumbers were about to be pickled.
One woman stood over a large kettle with steam circling around her.
She had a large wooden spoon, the size of a broom stick.
She was stirring whatever was inside.
I looked up at the sign above my head.
It was clearly visible above this cooking area.
You may watch us cook, but NO photographs.
I smiled.
These plain, hardworking women were talking as they prepared the food.
They were almost oblivious to those of us standing there.
I never saw such activity in one place.
The kitchen was ordered and efficient.
Everyone respected their desire not to be photographed.
I am so used to the Amish people and have a tender heart for them.
However, tourists, who may never have seen the Amish before, were intrigued.
The Amish are humble people and want no attention called to themselves.
Everywhere around us was the fruit of their labors.
Jams, jellies, pickled beets, dips and spreads were neatly displayed.
Small serving spoons were in each sample jar.
Bowls of homemade crackers or biscuits were waiting to be used for samples.
My daughter-in-love tried a few things.
Toothpicks were there for the customer to use and discard.
Someone came around to make sure the areas were kept clean and free of any trash.
It was such a pleasant place to visit; a feast for the senses.
We had lunch in a little cafe.
It is so wonderful to look around and see all sorts of people eating together.
People came over to see the baby.
My daughter-in-love was pleased to show her daughter to those who asked.
We had a leisurely lunch together.
We decided to go across the street to a little coffee shop.
We went in the front door and walked out the side door.
There was a breeze, so we chose to sit on a bench in the shade.
As we were walking to the bench, I saw it.
There on a post was a little house with a roof.
The house had a glass door with a knob.
It was what was inside the house that intrigued me.
The sign on the roof of the house read: Morgan’s Little Free Library.
Inside were books.
Most of them were children’s books.
Each was free for the taking.
I was so delighted.
I loved the idea that here in this little parking lot, children can come and get books.
I wanted to know more about the Little Free Library.
I did some research.
In 2009, Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a model of a one room schoolhouse. It was a tribute to his mother; she was a teacher who loved to read. He filled it with books and put it on a post in his front yard. His neighbors and friends loved it, so he built several more and gave them away.
UW-Madison’s Rick Brooks (retired from Little Free Library 2014) saw Bol’s do-it-yourself project while they were discussing potential social enterprises. Together, the two saw opportunities to achieve a variety of goals for the common good.
They were inspired by community gift-sharing networks, “take a book, leave a book” collections in coffee shops and public spaces, and most especially by the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
Around the turn of the 20th century, Carnegie set a goal to fund the creation of 2,508 free public libraries across the English-speaking world.
That goal inspired Brooks and Bol to set their own goal of surpassing 2,508 Little Free Libraries by the end 2013. They wound up exceeding that goal in August of 2012, a year and a half before their target date. (https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourhistory/)
As I was reading about Little Free Libraries, a simple question was asked.
Why Does Book Access Matter?
The answer is an important one.
It hurts my heart to think that some children do not have ready access to books.
One of the most successful ways to improve the reading achievement of children is to increase their access to books, especially at home. But 61% of low-income families do not have any age-appropriate books for their kids at home. Little Free Libraries play an essential role by providing 24/7 access to books (and encouraging a love of reading!) in areas where books are scarce. (https://littlefreelibrary.org/about/)
Can you imagine what having a Little Free Library would do in a neighborhood?
Can you imagine the people you would meet as they take a book and leave a book?
Can you imagine the love of reading a Little Free Library would foster?
Can you imagine the academic and social benefit a Little Free Library affords?
If my daughter-in-love and I had not walked over to the coffee shop, I would never have seen it.
The possibilities are endless.
I am sure the contents are monitored to make sure the books are age appropriate.
The world is at your fingertips when you hold a book.
I heard my mother as I pondered this Little Free Library.
You are never without a friend when you have a good book.
This Little Free Library not only makes good reading possible.
This Little Free Library makes community and friendship possible.
It is a win-win situation, if you ask me.
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (John 21:25)
I love books too! There is a little library at the Brandywine Y where I go for water aerobics, and our neighborhood is talking about having one here in The Woods too, near one of our newly-installed benches. To me, there’s nothing like turning the pages of a book–no kindle for me!
Agreed, Sue. I love to hold a book in my hand as well.
How wonderful that you have a Little Library at the Y.
How exciting that a Little Library may be set set up where you live.
Gina