WESTFIELD – The Friends of the Westfield Athenaeum are proud to introduce Westfield’s own Little Free Library.
Library Friend, Art Sousa, designed and created what he hopes to be a prototype for the community-based project to raise literacy awareness and foster the love of sharing books.
Based on the “take a book, leave a book” principle, the Little Library is designed to be a free-standing depository in and among communities. Residents and neighbors share reading materials through this free exchange and keep the library stocked through their own good will.
Started in 2009 in Wisconsin, the Little Free Library idea has spread across the country and inspired cities and neighborhoods to design, create, and build structures to freely exchange books.
According to LittleFreeLibrary.org, their mission is “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.” Westfield’s Little Library will become a registered library through this organization, but the hope is that residents and neighborhoods will create and sustain their own.
On Sunday at 11 a.m., Westfield’s first Little Free Library will be dedicated on the grounds of the Wyben Union Church at 678 Montgomery Road and invites the community to join with them as they unveil the library and promote literacy. Please contact the library at 413-568-0638 for more information.
