Buck School gets a little new library

Students at William L. Buck Elementary School have a new place to pick up a new book, as the school celebrated the opening of its “Little Free Library” on May 12.

The library is a small wooden birdhouse-like structure that was placed outside the school’s main entrance on Horton Avenue. It will contain books that students from the school and readers from throughout the community can borrow anytime.

“The Little Free Library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” said Karen Mylan, the school’s library media specialist. “You can come here any time, whether it’s the weekend, the summer, school vacation — there will always be books for you to enjoy.”

This is the second Little Free Library in District 24. Robert W. Carbonaro Elementary School opened its own last year. The libraries are part of a national effort started by Wisconsinite Todd Bol, who erected a small wooden structure outside his home with a sign that said “free books.” Soon, he partnered with Rick Brooks, and the two launched a movement to “promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide,” and to “build a sense of community as we share skills, creativity and wisdom across generations,” according to the organization’s website.

The libraries operate under the “take a book, leave a book” system, which asks visitors to replace what they choose to read with what they’ve finished reading.

Mylan said the school’s Little Free Library was already stocked with donations from teachers and parents, and encouraged students to visit the library soon.