The GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club was looking for a way to support the GFWC Florida Director Project, ‘Book Heroes,’ and decided to make a Little Free Library, a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange, for the community.
Little Free Libraries are a global phenomenon. The small, book exchanges number more than 80,000 around the world in 91 countries, according to LittleFreeLibrary.org.
The woman’s club found plans for the project and received a GFWC Focus on Literacy grant provided by Proctor & Gamble Company, to help with expenses.
Armed with his woodworking knowledge, Mike Tomsich, the spouse of a club member, helped turn the club’s vision into a reality by building the charming library.
In the meantime, the woman collected books for both adults and children and searched for a location for the library.
The New Tampa YMCA, at 16221 Compton Drive, agreed to allow the library to be placed on its property. On March 15, the GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club Little Free Library, Charter No. 84210, was installed and is now open to the public.
The Little Free Library works on the honor system and anyone can contribute or borrow books. Although the hope is that the community will actively add books to the library, the club is the steward of the library and will ensure that it is maintained, and will restock it, as necessary.
The library is registered and can be found at LittleFreeLibrary.org/ourmap/. The website is also the tool to find additional Little Free Library locations.
The New Tampa installment appears to be the first Little Free Library in the area that is open to the general public.
The club hopes that this library will encourage literacy and put books in the hands of those who might not otherwise have them at home.
Published April 3, 2019
