A new post box situated at Islamorada’s Founders Park is giving readers another place to participate in a book sharing movement that’s expanding access to reading locally.
Known as the Little Free Library, readers grab a book and place one of their own in the box for another person to pick up and read as part of an honor system to keep the choices diverse and plentiful. With several mini library posts already established in Islamorada, The Well Read Women club unveiled its second Little Free Library on Dec. 4 near the tennis courts, in front of Susie Jannach’s Tiki Tennis office, at Founders Park.
Decked in blue and decorated with mini rackets and tennis balls, players coming off the courts and others enjoying a walk or a day at Founders Park can find their next book to read.
Susie Jannach is a tennis pro who started The Well Read Women club with her mother, Claire Lang, 10 years ago. With 16 members, the club continues to expand reading opportunities with its first Little Free Library installed on Morada Way near Valerie Perreault’s art gallery last year. The first location was such a success that the club decided to branch out with a second one. Jannach and Perreaault say the newest little library gives even more people the ability to pick up a book.
“There’s a junior tennis program where we see lots of kids coming through. It gives them the chance to stop by the box as they’re leaving the courts. I also teach a lot of women, some who are in the club,” Jannach said. “It’s a team effort and it’s part of the book club’s legacy. We were happy to get it installed before the end of the year.”
Perreault noticed that the club’s first little library has especially been popular throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
“Every single time I go by there’s a fresh set of books,” she said. “With our new Little Free Library at Founders, it’s a no brainer with all the kids who come to get tennis lessons from Susie. I really can’t think of a better combination.”
Two Little Free Libraries are now posted at Founders Park with the other located by the playgrounds at the beach. Village Parks & Recreation Director Maria Bagiotti said with recreational and fitness at the park also come opportunities for reading.
“It’s a great addition to the park,” she said.
Jannach said the Well Read Women club will be installing a third Little Library at Ocean Studies Charter School.
“It’s already built so the students there can pick up books,” she said.
More than 90,000 registered Little Free Libraries are located in the U.S. and more than 90 countries. To learn more, visit LittleFreeLibrary.org.
