The little free library

I
 know reading is not at the top of the list of essential activities for many people. When our children must attend school online, instead of in the classroom, and with the libraries closed as well, many people may have given up trying to read. With the current crisis, the influences of television and videos on demand on the internet, books just seem to fade into the shadows of many people’s lists of interests.
I, for one, have never wanted that attitude to take over my mind. Reading has always been an essential part of my life, and I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep it a significant priority in my lifestyle. Books will always be the primary source of learning, pleasure, and mental imagery for me. And I know that while many people are content watching TV, videos and movies, there are still many people who share my opinion on the importance of reading. And the activity of parents reading to their children cannot be praised enough, in my opinion.
Now, I’ll be honest. In some ways, I’m a cheapskate. I don’t buy new books very often. Reading is important to me, but the idea of paying for the pastime has little appeal, especially because I’ve always been able to go to the library. And there it’s free unless you decide that you’re going to hold onto the book for longer than they want you to. I’ll pay for a magazine before I pay for a book, at least at full price. I love secondhand store finds. I will run into books I would never have thought of reading just going to a bookstore or browsing the rack of books for sale at grocery stores. When I go into a bookstore, I usually have something specific in my head. So I automatically head for that section and quickly scan the titles available or, more often, the authors. And then I pick out a book and look at the price tag. Once I put that expensive pile of neatly stacked and glued papers back on the shelf, I exit the store and head for the secondhand shop. And I usually find something I never intended to get. Often, I end up with a pleasant surprise. Plus, I’ll pay a dollar or less for a book that sells for multiple times that in the book stores. I also don’t like Amazon very much, mostly because I don’t want my financial information out there like that.
The library is often a close second for me. Still, again, I usually have something specific in mind, so the surprise of the dramatic discovery is lessened. I love the unexpected surprise of reading something I didn’t know I would read, and finding out that I like it.
But now, the library is closed, and the secondhand stores have shut their doors because of this invisible enemy. So what is a skinflint reader supposed to do?
In Newcastle, as well as in many hundreds of communities around the country, are the Little Free Libraries. These cute little boxes of free books are usually placed and taken care of by homeowners in front of their houses. They are not locked. And overall, the community gets to determine the content of such kiosks. In Newcastle, there are two of them still existing. One is located in front of my own house, at 28 S. Summit Ave. The other one is located at 313 Cascade Street, owned by James and Renee Blare.
Renee decided to have one outside of her home, partly because she is a published author. Reading has always been a big part of her life, and she wants to share that love with others for free. The Blares joined littlefreelibrary.org, and soon they had The Book Shack outside their home, built by James.
With Connie and me, the box was already in place when we bought the South Summit home. Before we moved in, it was a real estate office, and the business booklets had been placed in it. But with time, it was transformed into a free library box.
The concept is a cool one. People can come by, pick up a book or books for free. They can also drop off books. Many people do one or the other, but more often, I see people doing both. For the Blares and us, this is especially important for children, and while there are not always children’s books in the little shacks, they are most welcome. At both households, we wish to let the community decide what books will be placed; however, in both instances, the content is monitored. Neither of us wants graphic romance novels or horror included in the selection, so we do remove and dispose of those types of reading material. While I will allow crime dramas and some action/adventure, my preferences are biblical books, the epic style of fantasy, sci-fi and children’s books.
Anyone interested in having a free library outside of their own house, I believe, will find it a fulfilling activity. Plans for the construction of these shacks, resources for content and many other valuable pieces of information about these pastimes can be found at  littlefreelibrary.org. But please remember that if you choose to participate in this fantastic community service, or if you are only planning on using the resources, children are exposed to these libraries. Both the Blares and we ask that you keep the books and magazines appropriate for little eyes. But please drop by, pick out a book to read to your children or for yourself. I believe you will these libraries a welcome friend during these troubled times.