Local kids have a new place to borrow a book or two, thanks to a newly installed little free library at the HUB for Community Innovation.
The small book borrowing station is from the non-profit organization Little Free Library.
“Three years ago, a local coalition of nonprofits embarked on a journey to improve literacy rates at Lamar Milledge Elementary School and the surrounding Harrisburg community. At the helm of this pilot program, the Harrisburg Literacy Initiative, is the Community Foundation for the CSRA,” according to a news release.
Christy Wallace, the literacy initiative coordinator of Community Foundation for the CSRA, said the idea for a Little Free Library was sparked within the Harrisburg community. Because the literacy initiative program expanded to include the Laney Walker area, the one at the HUB for Community Innovation will stand as the flagship little free library with more planned to be installed in the future.
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“We want to improve the love of reading and learning for both the Harrisburg and Laney Walker community,” she said.
“To celebrate the Initiative’s fourth year, 13 free little free libraries are being installed throughout Harrisburg and Laney Walker. Many volunteers helped to prepare for this special project. Volunteers from Turn Back the Block worked hours to craft beautiful libraries. Youth from Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church primed the libraries. Volunteers, including MCG Pediatrics Interest Group, helped to paint each library with a unique design. Local artists, Warren Richard Jr., Salonika Rynes, Stephanie Willingham, Devin Lovett and Porkchop, were commissioned to showcase their talent on five special libraries,” according to a news release.
Boys With A Future, a non-profit organization run by Good Neighbor Ministries, left inspiring notes in the books and broke ground to install the library with help from Augusta native Russell Joel Brown.
Augusta artist Leonard Zimmerman, known locally as Porkchop, was chosen to feature artwork on the library. Zimmerman, who painted previously painted a mural in the children’s department of the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library downtown, said he wanted to continue a similar theme on the little free library.
“I felt honored to be asked,” he said. “Anytime that I can do something to give back to the community, I like to.”
“Porkchop has really embraced this project,” said Wallace.
Located at 631 Chafee Avenue in Augusta, the newly installed little from library is one of many in the area providing additional reading resources to children. For more information about other little library locations in the CSRA, visit https://littlefreelibrary.org/ .
