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The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

       

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Little Free Library

Little Libraries can make a big impact

April 20, 2021 By Mary Rathman

A Little Free Library is a great way to connect to people in your neighborhood, as more and more of these freestanding, book-sharing boxes are popping up.

The little libraries offer a place for community members to pick up a book, for free, and to share or leave a book in return.

Shady Hills Elementary students were anxious to choose a free book from the Little Free Library at the school’s campus. (Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

The idea is to encourage and inspire others to get into the habit of reading. The boxes usually contain an assortment of books for children and adults.

Several local woman’s clubs recently have donated and installed Little Free Libraries.

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club collaborated with the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library and its Foundry to install a little library on the campus of Shady Hills Elementary School in Spring Hill.

Members of the GFWC Pasco Juniors and Tampa Bay Women’s Club take part in a ribbon-cutting for the Little Free Library at the Lexington Oaks Community Clubhouse.

Bill Nelson, a Land O’ Lakes library staff member, designed, built and painted the box, now located at campus entrance of the the elementary school.

To get the little library started, the woman’s club donated and stocked its shelves. The club will replenish the inventory, too.

The GFWC Pasco Juniors and the GFWC Tampa Bay Women’s Club hosted a ribbon-cutting on April 6 for the installation of a Little Free Library in front of the Lexington Oaks Community Clubhouse in Wesley Chapel. James King, of Kingworks, donated his time and labor to build and install the box.

The clubhouse library contains various books for readers of all ages.

To learn more about how to help build community, inspire readers and expand book access, visit LittleFreeLibrary.org.

Published April 21, 2021

Club encourages a love for reading

April 3, 2019 By Mary Rathman

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, like this one, can be found around the world in 91 countries. (Courtesy of Raequel Tomsich)

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.

Members of the GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club proudly show off their Little Free Library now available to the general public at the New Tampa YMCA.

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

This little library downtown never closes

January 22, 2014 By Michael Hinman

When Amanda Lakes opened her hair salon, Charm Hair Studio, on the corner of Seventh Street and Fifth Avenue, she added something downtown Zephyrhills had never seen before.

Amanda Lakes sorts through some of the books stored outside her shop on Seventh Street and Fifth Avenue. People are encouraged to take a book or leave a book, and many return books they’ve borrowed with notes in the margins. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Amanda Lakes sorts through some of the books stored outside her shop on Seventh Street and Fifth Avenue. People are encouraged to take a book or leave a book, and many return books they’ve borrowed with notes in the margins. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

It was a small box, with a little door. And inside, it was filled with books. A small wood-carved sign on top advertised it as a Little Free Library, and encouraged anyone to “take a book” or “return a book.”

“There is no real system to it; you just take a book or leave a book,” Lakes said. “People ask me if anyone ever steals the books. But you can’t steal them, they’re already free.”

Lakes opened Charm at the former Main Street Zephyrhills office last August. Deciding to add a free library was an afterthought, but she spent a day building the stand. For the door, she “cheated” and was able to adapt an old picture frame.

But the Little Free Library is not just something Lakes developed on a whim. In fact, the national movement started a few years ago in Wisconsin when Todd Bol built a small wooden box in the shape of a one-room schoolhouse to honor his mother. He placed it in his front yard and filled it with books.

It was a hit in his neighborhood, and a movement was born. There are now hundreds of them all over the country, and a handful on nearly every continent. Florida alone boasts more than 50 of them, with the closest one outside of Zephyrhills in Lakeland.

“It is a topic of conversation a lot,” Lakes said. “It would be nice if more business owners would do it, too, but I don’t know if they see the value in it. I am not doing it to promote the salon business. I do it because I like working downtown, and it’s a way to do something fun and helpful for the community.”

But other businesses could do the same thing, and maybe even stock it with books that relate to their business. A travel agency, for example, could keep their library filled with travel books, Lakes said.

People are stopping in her shop so often to donate books for the library, Lakes stores many of them in a work closet until there’s room. People will come and take books from her outside stand, and some will even bring them back later on, complete with notes in the margins, or even messages to future readers.

“People will review the books, writing what they thought of it,” Lakes said. “I’ve even had people go back and forth with conversation, almost like it’s a mobile book club. There is this kind of attraction to the whole thing, especially now in a world where everything is so technology-driven.”

The Little Free Library sits outside Charm at 5224 Seventh St., and never closes.

“It’s always open, and anyone who just happens to be walking by is free to explore,” Lakes said.

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What’s Happening

08/15/2022 – Animal Services temporary closure

Pasco County Animal Services, 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O' Lakes, will close to the public on Aug. 15 through Aug. 17. The PCAS team members will be training on a new pet management software, to better serve customers. Offices will re-open for regular business hours on Aug. 18. … [Read More...] about 08/15/2022 – Animal Services temporary closure

08/16/2022 to 08/18/2022 – National Rarities buying event

Kiefer Fine Jewelers will host an exclusive buying event with National Rarities from Aug. 16 to Aug. 18, at both Kiefer locations: 37850 Meridian Ave., in Dade City (Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.), and 24144 State Road 54 in Lutz (Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.). Top dollar is expected to be offered for fine jewelry, coins and currency, scrap gold and silver, fine art, diamonds, sterling silver, watches, and antique toys and advertising. This event serves those looking for a professional evaluation of their items in a convenient setting. Estate specialists will share information about the items and help the seller to consider options. Payment is on the spot should the customer decide to sell, plus a 20% bonus if taken as store credit. The event also will feature an Estate Jewelry Trunk Show, presenting one-of-a-kind pieces. For information, call Dade City store at 352-567-2378, or Lutz at … [Read More...] about 08/16/2022 to 08/18/2022 – National Rarities buying event

08/17/2022 – Bat seminar

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will present a master gardener seminar on bats on Aug. 17 at 11 a.m. Topics will include why bats are threatened and misunderstood. Masks are recommended. Registration is required online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 08/17/2022 – Bat seminar

08/17/2022 – Guardian ad litem sessions

Anyone interested in volunteering for abused, neglected or abandoned children in the Pasco County foster care system can attend one of these upcoming sessions for the Guardian ad Litem program: • The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will host a Volunteer Orientation on Aug. 17 at 1:30 p.m. Masks are encouraged. Register online at PascoLibraries.org. For information, call 813-788-6375. • The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host an Information Session on Aug. 18 at 1:30 p.m. For information, call 727-834-3493, ext. 2929, or visit HeroToAChild.org. … [Read More...] about 08/17/2022 – Guardian ad litem sessions

08/18/2022 – ZooTampa Story Time

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will present “Story Time with ZooTampa: Senses in Nature” on Aug. 18 at 10 a.m., for ages 3 to 6, online. The program will use stories, action rhymes, songs and interactive activities to combine an animal experience with early literacy skills, to encourage reading readiness and social interaction. Register online through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 08/18/2022 – ZooTampa Story Time

08/18/2022 – ZooTampa story time

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will present “Story Time with ZooTampa: Senses in Nature” on Aug. 18 at 10 a.m., for ages 3 to 6, online. The program will use stories, action rhymes, songs and interactive activities to combine an animal experience with early literacy skills, to encourage reading readiness and social interaction. Register online through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 08/18/2022 – ZooTampa story time

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