Krishna Chundi is interested in engineering.
The Land O’ Lakes High School senior got a taste of it during the community service project he completed in pursuit of becoming an Eagle Scout.
The 18-year-old, who plans to attend the University of South Florida, spent a year building four book boxes. Then, he coordinated with the Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources department to have them strategically placed in county parks in communities where a high population of children from low-income families could benefit from his project.
The little libraries provide a place where people can borrow and exchange books.
The project cost about $800, which Chundi raised, or which was donated.
“When I was little, I really had a great interest in reading, but luckily I had a library (the Land O’ Lakes Branch) real close to me,” Chundi said. “Not everyone has a library that close. … So these (boxes), they’re in good locations to provide kids, or anyone, with books they can borrow.”
To build the boxes, Chundi said he consulted one of the best places for do-it-yourself projects, YouTube. But he couldn’t find a video that offered step-by-step instructions, so he turned to his family and scout leaders for their help in figuring out the best way to complete the build.
And he had to make adjustments as the project progressed — just like an engineer would.
“We had to improvise as we went along,” Chundi said. “The box was easy, but working on and installing and problem-solving the door was difficult because we had to make adjustments to make the doors fit better and the right way.”
He also made an ingenious move to keep the elements from damaging the books by installing a magnet latch to keep the door tightly closed.
Throughout the build, Chundi coordinated with the Lowe’s in Lutz, which donated some supplies and gave him a “Scout discount.”
He also worked closely with Pasco’s parks department.
Parks and Recreation Manager Brian Taylor said once Chundi contacted the department, it identified sites that didn’t have book boxes, which are also known as little libraries.
The parks department agreed to paint and install the boxes.
“He did 99% of the work,” Taylor said. “He’s a really great, upstanding kid, and he did a really great job for just a teenager. I mean, it takes work just to achieve Eagle Scout status, but (a project like this), it promotes all the different things such as education, sharing, reusing, repurposing — and they look nice!
“He did such a great job on something that is very popular no matter where they get placed.”
Chundi’s boxes were installed at Crews Lake Wilderness Park in Spring Hill and Little Lisa Park and W.H. “Jack” Mitchell Park, both in New Port Richey. The fourth box was installed by the playground in Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, also in New Port Richey. (See accompanying box for addresses)
Also, the box at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park is near the StoryWalk® the Parks Department opened in 2022.
“It’s a perfect spot by StoryWalk,” Taylor said. “We expect kids to take a book after leaving the trail.”
Chundi agreed: “I thought that was a really good place to put that box.”
The county also provided some books, but Chundi provided most of the books that were collected through a book drive at Land O’ Lakes High.
“When we had the book drive at our school, and they didn’t know what to do with a lot of them, so I said give them to me for the boxes,” Chundi said. “I was able to put in a variety of books, with plenty for kids and young adults, even some cooking books in there, too.”
Chundi wants to get the word out, so people can take advantage of the new little libraries.
“Advertising these book boxes is crucial,” he added, “so I’m glad to get the word out, that way (everyone) gets the most use out of the boxes and (they) make a greater impact on the community.”
Book Boxes Built by Krishna Chundi
Details: Land O’ Lakes High senior and soon-to-be Eagle Scout Krishna Chundi built four book boxes to be installed in Pasco County parks.
Locations:
- Starkey Wilderness Park, 1115 Wilderness Park Road, in New Port Richey
- Crews Lake Park, 16739 Crews Lake Drive, in Spring Hill
- Lake Lisa Park, 7021 Maplehurst Drive, in New Port Richey
- W.H. “Jack” Mitchell Park, 4025 Little Road, in New Port Richey
Published April 19, 2023
