BYRON – Summertime reading is a popular – or should be – pastime.
In Ogle County, there are many sources to get books: Community libraries, school libraries and Little Free Libraries. A Little Free Library is a “take a book, leave a book” free book exchange where anyone can take a book or leave a book to share. They are those small structures of different shapes and colors mounted on posts that help promote reading and in Ogle County there are six such registered Little Free Libraries.
As of this date there are some 90,000 Little Free Libraries throughout the world with the first one built in 2009 by the late Todd Bol in Hudson, Wis. The latest one installed in Ogle County is located on the grounds of the United Church of Byron and constructed by Brad Townsend and Norm Metz with the artwork done by Byron High School art teacher, Kathy Driscoll.
One of the many missions of the UCC of Byron is reading literacy with many of their members participating in the “Reading Buddies” program at Mary Morgan Elementary School; providing a Little Free Library is a natural extension of that mission.
To learn more about Little Free Libraries go to littlefreelibrary.org .
