A grand opening for a little Bay Park library

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The Cape Cod Homeowners Association hosted the grand opening of the Little Free Library at Hewlett Point Park on Oct. 23. The library is located inside the park and will only be accessible during hours in which the park is open.

“The Cape Cod Homeowners Association heard about these Little Free Libraries and thought our area would benefit from one, or more if this one is successful,” said Diana Harrison, a lifelong Bay Park resident and a CCHOA board member. “We hope the area residents and visitors enjoy it, and to install one or two more in the future, so books are available to borrow within a few blocks of home.”

The East Rockaway Public Library was one of several outlets to donate books to help get the Little Free Library started.

About 20 people attended the grand opening, including town councilman Anthony D'Esposito.

CCHOA President Susie Travia said a few words at the event, thanking board member Colleen Benning’s father, Scott McLaughlin, for donating his time, labor and materials to build the library. She also acknowledged East Rockaway Public Library’s Heather Massa for donating books and CCHOA Vice President Tricia Cooney for coming up with the idea to bring a Little Free Library to East Rockaway after discovering a few of them in Long Beach.

"Little Free Libraries are a global phenomenon,” Travia said. “The small, front-yard book exchanges number 36,000 around the world in 70 countries — from Iceland to Tasmania to Pakistan. Now, a new Little Free Library at Hewlett Point Park will join the movement to share books, bring people together and create communities of readers."

The library will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. every day. Anyone who is in the neighborhood or visiting the park can utilize the library, which works on the honor system, as customers are able to checkout the books and return them at a later date.