‘Little Library’ in Tega Cay has big impact on city

The Tega Cay Women’s Club is putting books in the hands of local residents with the recent addition of the “Little Library” at the Living Memorial Gardens.

“The Women’s Club would like to see the children and adults that come to the gardens stay awhile and read a book and meet other neighbors,” said Patty Martin, club member and Tega Cay Beautification Committee chair.

The Living Memorial Gardens, established by the city’s Beautification Committee with the support of Tega Cay City Council, volunteers and donors, is a public garden with a variety of flowers, foliage, and trees along winding sidewalks and pathways. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll, go for a jog, walk their dog or watch their children play in the rock garden.

The new addition of the Little Library will provide yet another way for residents to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. In fact, the location was chosen because of the number of people who visit the Gardens every day.

“A fellow member of the Women’s Club was on vacation and saw (a little library) in the park she was visiting,” said Martin. “When she returned home, she suggested it to the Beautification Committee (and) we thought it was a wonderful idea.”

The club asked Tega Cay residents Jim MacBride and Danny Papez to construct and install the library. After 35 hours of donated hours of craftsmanship, the two men installed the new library at the end of May.

The library started out with 40 children’s books and eight adult books, all of which were donated. But with a motto of ‘take a book, return a book,’ the collection is sure to grow as visitors share their favorites with their neighbors, club members said.

Attendees of the library’s dedication ceremony on June 20 also donated books. In addition to a ribbon cutting by Mayor George Sheppard, the ceremony also included the presentation of an engraved cobblestone paver to MacBride and Papez for their hard work.

“This (library) will bring will bring the neighbors of Tega Cay closer together,” Martin said.

This story was originally published June 30, 2015 at 11:14 PM with the headline "‘Little Library’ in Tega Cay has big impact on city."