Little Free Libraries sprouting in Evangeline Parish

The Evangeline Parish Library is joining a movement spreading worldwide to literally put books into the community through “Little Free Libraries.”
The idea is to place the weather-resistant and creative hand-made miniature libraries in public places where people can borrow, donate and share any number of books that continuously change the content of the “Little Free Libraries.”
Suzy Lemoine, parish library outreach coordinator, built Evangeline Parish’s first Little Free Library, which is on display at the main parish library in Ville Platte. It will be placed outside the new main library when it opens later this year.
The Friends of the Library discussed the idea during a meeting last year and are promoting the concept, which is catching on in the parish, the state and worldwide. The web site www://littlefreelibrary.org has a map showing where the concept is being implemented. The site also has instructions on how anyone can officially create a Little Free Library and receive an official sign.
Nina David, library board member and master teacher, is having two Little Free Libraries built, which will be placed in playgrounds in Mamou, and her husband, Biff, is building one for their home. Ken Johnson, library facility tech, was inspired to built two of the mini-libraries he plans to put in parks.
“Anyone can join this movement and share in the good feelings that giving back to the community generates,” Lemoine said. People can call Lemoine at (337) 363-1369 for more information. She said the creative libraries are being placed in any easily accessible location.
The concept originated in 2009 when a Wisconsin man built a model of a one-room schoolhouse for his mother, who had been a teacher and was an avid reader. He put books in it and put in on a post in her yard. The idea quickly caught on as friends and neighbors saw them. It became a nonprofit corporation in May 2012 and in September of that year, the Internal Revenue Service certified Little Free Library as a tax exempt organization. About 12,000 Little Free Libraries are estimated to exist worldwide.