HIGH POINT, N.C., March 21, 2017 – Painted a cheery shade of yellow and decorated brightly with children’s handprints, a new “free little library” gives children in the Washington Street neighborhood of High Point the opportunity to borrow or share a book whenever they’d like.
Neighbors and volunteers gathered on March 18 at Washington Street Park for the unveiling of this new neighborhood book exchange. The free little library is stocked with children’s books, and anyone can take or add a book to the collection.
The event included local children, Bonner Leaders from High Point University, HPU faculty, the Rev. Michael Ellerbe, president of the Washington Street Neighborhood Association, and Jakki Davis, executive director of D-UP, who offered a reading to the children.
Various groups from the community worked together to make this possible. The library was built by HPU alumna and Americorps VISTA Samantha Paterno and her father. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from the Washington Street area helped paint the library, and High Point Parks and Recreation assisted with its installation.
“Many of the kids in the Washington Street neighborhood are very excited to have a free little library full of books at their park,” said Paterno. “They told us they couldn’t wait to come get a book. This will be something special in their community for years to come that they can see and use each day on the walk home from school.”
Washington Street’s free little library is one of three located in the city of High Point and one of more than 50,000 worldwide. It was inspired by the nonprofit Little Free Library, an effort to build community and inspire readers, and can be found on the organization’s world map of registered libraries.