Friends of the Library Take Books to Little Free Libraries to Ease Pandemic Woes
The Springfield-Greene County Libraries and services closed on Tuesday, March 17, in light of health concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19). The Library still offers e-books online, but the closure left many people who prefer traditional books over e-books without a place to borrow them. Some of those loyal readers made their disappointment known on Facebook and in telephone calls to Library staff.
That’s when the Friends of the Library jumped into action. Several Friends members gathered up hundreds of discarded and donated books meant for the Friends’ book sales, and began delivering them on Friday, March 19, to many of Springfield-area Little Free Libraries. Delivery will continue through Monday, March 23.
There are over 60 Little Free Libraries in the greater Springfield area, a fraction of which are identified on a national website at https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/. The Friends don’t expect to reach all of them, but the volunteers planned to fan out across the city to drop off a handful of books at every site possible. One of the Friends members also routinely delivers discarded paperbacks to the area’s free libraries through the year.
Each book includes a bookmark that reads: “Enjoy this book, and pass it on! This book was donated to the Little Free Library by the Friends of the Library and the staff of the Springfield-Greene County Libraries to help you get through the closures and concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. If you enjoy this author, please check out all the other titles at the Library when it reopens!”
“The Library makes a variety of e-books, audiobooks and other materials available to library cardholders 24/7 through thelibrary.org, but we all understand that some people prefer to hold a traditional book in their hands,” said Friends President Bill Kastler.
“So until the libraries reopen, we felt it was a helpful way to provide books for those ‘traditional’ readers and spread a little joy while we endure the pandemic,” he added.
Cancellations and life changes due to the coronavirus have interrupted the Friends’ own plans. Due to concerns about large gatherings spreading the virus, Kastler said the giant Spring Book Sale rescheduled for May 27-31 has been canceled. The Fall Book Sale will be October 14-18 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds E*Plex.
A Little Free Library is a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange. They come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common version is a small wooden box of books. Anyone may take a book or bring a book to share. Many of the Little Free Libraries in the greater Springfield area are on the national map https://littlefreelibrary.secure.force.com/mapPage.
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