By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays Public Library has expanded a program that seeks to make reading more accessible to the public.
Five new Little Free Library locations were added in Hays in November in cooperation with the Hays Parks Department.
The libraries are boxes on posts located at seven Hays parks locations and one near the Victoria swimming pool.
The idea behind the boxes is “Take a book, leave a book.” Each box is stocked with books that can be taken without cost and without a need to check out the books from the library. If you like the book, it is yours to keep, said Samantha Gill, HPL adult services manager.
The library uses donated books or books taken out of circulation at the library to fill the boxes. However, the program encourages readers to also leave books they no longer need or want for other people to take from the boxes. If you don’t have a book to leave, that is OK too.
“Right now at our library we are trying to make sure that we get outside of our four walls,” Gill said. “People don’t need to feel that it is necessary to come to our physical building to get books. We are trying to figure out different ways to get books into people’s hands outside of the building who might not be able to make it to the library.”
Although the Little Free Libraries generally see less use in winter as people are using parks less, the Little Free Libraries have proved popular in the summer and warmer months.
“There have been days that I have filled up the Little Free Library at the Aquatic Park and then that evening I drive by and it is completely empty.”
Children have waited in lines for books, when they saw the library van pull up to the Little Free Libraries, Gill said.
Although the Little Free Libraries are also stocked with both adult and young adult books, the most popular books in the program have been children’s books.
Reading is very important to children’s development and shown to be a predictor of future success in school. Keeping books in the home is a key part of that process, Gill said.
All seven Little Free Libraries in Hays have individuals or groups who have adopted the libraries and help make sure the boxes are kept stocked with books. During the winter, the boxes are usually checked a couple of times of month, but during the summer, the Gill urges her volunteers to check the boxes at least once a week.
All of the boxes were hand painted. Nicole Thibodeau, local artist and library employee, painted all of the boxes except the box at the dog park, which was painted by Rebecca Grizzell.
“I think it is a fun, innovative way to get books into the hands of people who might not be able to come to the library or who are at the park and want just to browse and see what we have to offer,” Gill said. “We are really proud of it. Maybe in the future, we will add another one here or there, but for now we are really happy with the success of this project.”
A complete list of the Free Little Library locations in Hays is listed below. See a map of the locations by clicking here.
If you have additional questions about the program, you can contact the library at 785-625-9014.
Hays Aquatic Park, Fourth and Main
Seven Hills Park, 33rd and Hillcrest
Hays Dog Park, Highway 183 By-pass
Frontier Park, Highway 183 By-pass
Aubel-Bickle Park, 30th and Sherman
Ekey Park, 19th and Holmes Road
Kiwanis Park, 17th and Harvest Avenue