There are more than 90,000 registered Little Free Library book-sharing boxes in 91 countries worldwide. During September’s Literacy Month, United Way of Collier and the Keys has announced that over the last year, six more have been added in Monroe County. Located throughout the county, these Little Free Libraries will encourage reading and improve literacy in the areas they serve.
The libraries were made possible thanks to a donation of retired newspaper kiosks from The Citizen, conversion of the kiosks by Melissa Wilson of Marathon, support from Andy & Stephanie Griffiths of Key West, and decorating efforts by many volunteers.
The new libraries are at the following locations:
• YMCA Program Center, Key Largo Community Park, 500 St. Croix Place
• Coral Isles Church, 90001 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier
• Ocean Studies Charter School, 92295 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier
• Jogging Trail, 10550 Aviation Blvd., Marathon
• Sugarloaf School, 255 Crane Blvd., Sugarloaf Key
• Montessori Children’s School of Key West, 1221 Varela St., Key West
Another library was previously placed at Bernstein Park on Stock Island.
Little Free Library is a registered nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world. Little Free Libraries work on the “take a book, share a book” lending library premise. Anyone is free to borrow from or donate books to a library.
To donate books, just visit the Little Library of your choice and leave books inside. Please be respectful if a library is already full or speak with the host location if you want to confirm that they are age-appropriate for their library. Each location individually determines if it accepts children’s books, adult books or both.
Through Little Free Library book exchanges, more than 120 million books are exchanged each year.
If you are interested in placing a library of your own on your property or for more details including a map of all locations, visit littlefreelibrary.org/.
