You’ve all seen them, here and there on the side of the road, in front of people’s houses, along the sidewalks, in town commons, little boxes with doors and lots of books inside with signs that urge, take a book, share a book. They all look different. Some are made to look like little houses, churches, and even rocket ships. They are all very colorful and inviting. They’re called Little Free Libraries.

Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Their mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led, Little Free Library book-exchange boxes. Their vision is a Little Free Library in every community and a book for every reader. They believe all people are empowered when the opportunity to discover a personally relevant book to read is not limited by time, space, or privilege.

ValleyCAST, the arts and culture arm of Open Sky Community Services at the Alternatives’ Whitin Mill, 50 Douglas Road, Whitinsville, has wanted to install a Little Free Library on the complex grounds for years, but life gets busy, and it just kept getting pushed to the back burner. Until one day, an email set it all in motion. Heather Elster, Executive Director of the Whitin Commu nity Center, sent Cristi Collari, the Director of ValleyCAST, an email last December with a picture of a bright green, reproduction British telephone booth asking, “Can you use this?” The tourist company in Boston where Elster’s son Jordan works was offering it for free. The catch? It must pick it up before the end of the year.

When Collari saw the picture, she immediately thought “Little Free Library!” Collari responded to Elster with a resounding “Yes!” Then Open Sky’s Property Services Supervisor, Roseanna Lamontagne, scrambled to arrange transport before the deadline, no easy task during the busy holiday season.

Then the real magic happened. Coleen Fournier, one of Open Sky’s Maintenance Technicians, took on the project. Fournier built side by side shelves for the inside out of scrap wood and refinished and weatherproofed the whole thing with exterior paint in the authentic red of British telephone booths. Fournier even created a sign that reads “ValleyCAST Little Free Library” for the inside. Collari then registered their Little Free Library and purchased and installed their charter sign #191805 which reads “Take a book. Share a book” at the top of the door.

ValleyCAST and two individuals who attend the Open Sky Employment Program at the Whitin Mill, Eric Pogorzelski and Ashley Bathrick, have volunteered to be stewards of the library going forward. Eric and Ashley will work with ValleyCAST and the community to keep the library clean and well stocked.

Collari encourages the community to get involved by donating books, art supplies, and small works of art. Collari also encourages anyone interested to stop by and find a book to read, art supplies to create with, and/or small works of art to bring home. “Little Free Libraries are all about reciprocity and the Alternatives’ Whitin Mill was created on that same principle, so it just makes sense to have a Little Free Library on the property.” says Collari. “It’s also another nice way to give back to the community.”

More than 400 million books have been shared through registered Little Free Libraries across the country, profoundly increasing book access for readers of all ages and backgrounds. To find more Little Free Libraries in your area download the Little Free Library mobile app and check out their map.

To learn more about the Little Free Library and/or how to start your own Little Free Library visit: www.littlefreelibrary.org.

To learn more about Open Sky Community Services visit: www.openskycs.org.

To learn more about ValleyCAST visit: www.openskycs.org/valleycast