Free Little Library dedicated in Floyd

Town library joins more than 36,000 across the world

By Kate Hayden

khayden@charlescitypress.com

It could be the first public library ever dedicated in Floyd, and it hardly takes up more than two square feet of space. That wasn’t a concern for the small group of residents who cheered on the library’s dedication on Saturday. The Free Little Library, located in Ohm Memorial Park off of First Avenue (Floyd’s Main Street) joined more than 36,000 other library exchanges worldwide, organizer and steward Deb Bauer said.

Bauer and Pastor Martha Bennett also brought popcorn and books to give away to readers from preschool to 7th grade, thanks to a grant from Scholastic Publishing.

Bauer first brought the idea to Floyd City Council last June with the support of Floyd United Methodist Church, and the final idea was approved in February. Bauer’s husband Keith built the library for the park.

Readers are encouraged to pick up or leave a book at the library to keep variety going. Community members can also leave a message in the notebook or contact Bauer for suggestions on what they’d like to see.

The first Free Little Library was built in Hudson, Wis. in 2009 and quickly gained attention with community developers. Founders originally hoped to match Andrew Carnegie’s 2,509 free public libraries in the United States; now, there are libraries in more than 70 countries across the world.