Little Free Library on Wanda, Pikeville, NC
Little Free Library on Wanda
Grand Opening Celebrates Literacy and Community
Pikeville, North Carolina
Little Free Libraries are a global phenomenon. The small, front yard book exchanges number over 39,000 around the world in 70 countries — from Iceland to Tasmania to Pakistan. Now, a new Little Free Library at 300 Wanda Drive, Pikeville NC - only the second in all of Wayne County - will join the movement to share books, bring people together and create communities of readers.
Each year, JR and Cindi Pate encourage their two teenage boys, Austin and Spencer, to support or get envolved some type of Community Service project of their own. In past years, they have helped their elderly neighbor with his lawn, planted flowers around flag poles, volunteered for local charities as well as formed their own food and coat drive for the local soup kitchen.
So when asked what prompted them to choose to install a little free library, Mrs. Pate responded, "As a homeschool family, books are a huge part of our life. Our local public library is a great resource from where we get books, but it’s not always open when we want to go and we are constantly racking up library fees. So when we heard about littlefreelibrary.org, we were excited to know we could have our very own little library right in our front yard where we could share some of our favorite books with our neighbors and others in our community. A library, I might add, that’s always open and never charges fees."
So, using what recycled materials the Pate family had around their home, they fashioned together a box that would hold books to form the library. They registered with littlefreelibrary.org, had the appropriate agencies come out and mark electrical and water lines and erected the library on the corner of their front lawn, close to the street for easy access. "The Little Free Library on Wanda has been installed for a couple of weeks now and we have already met so many wonderful people and shared books with the neighborhood kids.", said JR Pate. "We have also had many friends and neighbors make book donations," he added.
Here’s how it works!
• We initially stock the Little Free Library with a variety of books
• You stop by and take whatever catches your eye
• You bring books to contribute when you can
The Pate family, stewards of The Little Free Library on Wanda, will host a grand opening party for their Little Free Library on Monday, August 8th from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. The celebration will include family, friendly activities, contests, crafts and refreshments.
"Our Little Free Library doesn’t just belong to us, it belongs to the entire community," says Mrs. Pate. "It’s our hope that this Little Free Library will bring a little more joy, a little more connection and a whole lot more books to our community."
If you are interested in starting your own Little Free Library you can visit their website for more information. http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/
