UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION
‘Little Free Libraries’ offer
book-sharing alternatives
New libraries are popping up around Lexington, and the
latest location is in front of the UK College of Education’s
Taylor Education Building. These libraries – which look like
birdhouses – don’t require library cards or late fines, don’t
insist that patrons whisper or stay quiet, and don’t mind if
you do not return a book.
Known as the “Little Free Library,” they function as a “take
a book, return a book” gathering place. Anyone may stop by
and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book
to share. The libraries function as educational and outreach
tools for civic engagement, social and environmental issues.
The Little Free Library program’s mission is to promote
literacy and the love of reading by building free book
exchanges worldwide, and to build a sense of community by
sharing skills, creativity and wisdom across generations The
website is http://littlefreelibrary.org/. The Little Free Library
movement started in 2009 in Wisconsin when one man built
a model schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, filled it with
books, and put it on a post in his front yard. By January, the
total number of registered LFLs worldwide was estimated
to be nearly 15,000, with thousands more being built or
planned.
The College of Education’s Little Free Library has been in
4
the works for over two years, made possible by the vision of
Wendi Keene, formerly of the YMCA. Keene donated this
Little Free Library to the UK literacy education program
and dedicated it to the memory of Rob Taylor. Taylor was a
resident of the High Street YMCA who was often referred to
as the Mayor of High Street. He believed strongly in literacy
and education, and he also loved UK and was a huge fan –
at his funeral, his casket was covered with his favorite UK
blanket and his favorite UK hat. Keene’s son is the artist who
painted the Little Free Library to reflect both Taylor’s love of
gardening and the values of the YMCA.
The UK literacy faculty envision this Little Free Library
and the texts exchanged will reflect both the values of UK’s
literacy education program and the community. Literacy
comes in all shapes and sizes – in addition to circulating
books, the goal is to share whatever it is people read,
including magazines, comics, cookbooks, fiction or nonfiction. The UK community comes in all shapes and sizes, too
– young children and retirees and everyone in between. The
community includes students, faculty and various businesses,
including people who speak Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin,
among other languages. Literacy faculty hope this library
will reflect all aspects of what this diverse community reads.
COE COMMUNICATOR | NOVEMBER 2014