James Price of San Diego applauds Little Free Library’s literacy efforts

The Little Free Library strives to increase literacy and a sense of community in cities around the nation. A Little Free Library was just opened in Lexington, Kentucky. San Diego’s James Prices celebrates opportunities to increase reading and literacy around the US.

 The Little Free Library is an organization that strives to increase reading around the US. In essence, the organization installs miniature libraries in communities. They open the libraries to support reading among communities, and ultimately strengthening communities.

These libraries are unlike regular brick-and-mortar libraries, however. A Little Free Library is more of a location than anything else. Basically, a water-proof container is set up in a community area. Community members can place a book in or a take a book. The locations are often attached to stores and community centers.

The community of Lexington, Kentucky has just added a new location for a Little Free Library in the city. The third of its kind in Lexington, this location was added to the store Third Street Stuff. The owner of Third Street stuff, a café and store, Pat Gerhard is thrilled. She sees this as an opportunity to bring people together.

Community-member Betsy Adler came up with the idea. Her sister had sent her information about the Little Free Library’s program. Adler then took the idea to her local YMCA. While the library isn’t overseeing the library, it’s supporting everyone’s efforts. “This is a community project,” says Wendi Keene of the YMCA.

Anyone in any community can open a Little Free Library. As of now, the organization has sites in 45 out of the 50 US states. It also has international locations. The organization has a goal to start at least 2,510 sites, the number of Andrew Carnegie’s libraries.

The Little Free Library is in the business of advocating giving and taking. And in their case, it’s about giving a community an opportunity to grow. The library boxes, they hope, will act as catalyst for both community growth and general literacy. The communities in Lexington are benefitting, and they await other cities to catch on.

ABOUT:

 James Price, from San Diego, is known for his entrepreneurial excellence. He has worked in numerous fields, in numerous companies. Price founded Aero Financial, who provides organizational services to companies. He has also worked in the health products field and restaurant reviewing. He also serves on the board of the I AM Foundation, an organization that distributes children’s books internationally.