In case you didn't already know this about me, I love Free People. I love their clothes, I love their stores, and I especially adore their website and blog. While browsing through the Free People blog, Bldg 25, today I found a post about Little Free Libraries. The writer of the blog (they have multiple contributors) came across a small, mailbox-like structure that housed books. The policy of the Little Free Library is you borrow one and you return one, something kind of like the take a penny, leave a penny holders at cash registers (except of course this is sharing knowledge, not money). As an avid reader, I personally think this is an awesome idea. I followed the link to the Little Free Libraries website and found that there was a whole system of these libraries spread across America (and abroad).
What deeply saddened me was that there was not ANY of these libraries in Mississippi! NONE! There are some in Arkansas, some in Alabama, and even some in Tennessee, but not one in Mississippi. Not even in the "literary capital of Mississippi" aka Oxford. To me this is shameful, but not entirely shocking. After all, Mississippi is the least literate state in the nation. I think that if these books were available then maybe that could change. I know that library membership is generally free, but for some reason I feel as though this would make books more available to the public. I could be wrong and it could just be that I'm a romantic about these things. I know I'd love to find a little birdhouse of books that I could borrow from. It would be a neat little treasure. If I lived in a neighborhood, I most definitely would be pushing to sponsor a Little Free Library but until that day I guess I'm just going to have to live without one in Mississippi.
This Little Free Library is the one that was posted about on the
Free People Blog. However, while I was searching for images of the different kinds of libraries, I came across the
blog post that told about this guy being erected.
Personally, I think we should do something about not having one in Mississippi, but I'm not 100% what I can do about it now. If someone wants to put one up please let me know and I'll send a book or two or three your way to put in it!
P.S. Yes, I know I sound something like an English teacher with all this enthusiasm about upping Mississippi's literacy rate. It affects so many other things than just the simple being able to read the road signs or your bills or a book. Reading (books) on a daily basis enriches your life, sharpens your brain, and expands your imagination.
Title: "Cigarette Eyes" by Matt Costa
Labels: Books, Community, Literacy, Music, Musings
