Little Free Libraries unite community

No library card is needed to take a book from these libraries.

The Little Free Libraries in Clover speak volumes about the community effort that went into making them happen.

“If someone takes them, reading is happening, which is wonderful,” said Rebecca Crute, third grade teacher at Crowders Creek Elementary School.

Crute was at a Rock Hill park with family when she saw a small wooden structure, like a birdhouse, with books inside. Then she saw another one in Memphis.

“I’d never seen it before,” she said.

Crute, who has a master’s degree in library media, has a passion for getting children excited about reading.

“I really need to do this,” she said.

Crute applied for and in May was awarded a $1,000 CloverLeaf grant to boost literacy by building three Little Free Libraries in the Clover community where adults and children can take a book from the box and leave another in its place. Clover Leaders for Educational Advancement Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit organization supporting teachers and students in the Clover School District.

“The focus was for children but the whole community can use them,” Crute said. “The free books is a way to unite a community and a neat way to encourage literacy.”

The Little Free Libraries are at Clover Community Park and New Centre Park, and another will be installed at McGill’s Store.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to provide another service to our residents,” said Town Administrator Allison Harvey. “The kids are at the park, now books are here, and parents, too. It’s a one-stop shop.”

Before a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 12 at Clover Community Park, resident Jerry DeCouto was depositing a book in the navy and gray painted box.

“When I first saw it, I thought what in the world is this? People are going to steal these books,” he said. “It’s a great asset to the community, not just education wise, but has good, old-fashioned ways we used to have for community sharing.”

Jacob Pierce, 9, was swapping out “The Mixed-Up Rooster” for “The Strange Case of Origami Yoga.” He said he likes the concept of give a book, take a book.

“At the public library you only have so much time,” he said.

Putting the libraries together also was a community project. Clover High School building construction class put the kits together, the high school’s cross-country team painted them and they were installed by the town of Clover’s Parks & Recreation staff.

“The exciting part is, it will be right there where we have our meets so we’ll be able to see people using it,” said Nancy Hester, assistant coach for the cross-country team of the book box at New Centre Park.

“I’d never seen one before,” said Clayton Williams, a freshman on the cross-country team, at the ribbon cutting. “Now, before a race, I can pick out a book and read.”

Clover Parks and Recreation Director Greg Holmes said Crute’s project is a wonderful gift to the community.

“Rebecca has been a part of Clover basically all of her life and for her to come back into to make sure something like this happens in Clover and invest back in Clover with her time to search out for the grant, that speaks volumes about the folks we raise here in the community,” said Clover Mayor Donnie Grice at the dedication ceremony.

And, it’s OK if residents fall in love with a book and it doesn’t make it back to the box.

“The grant provided books, and I have plenty to fill and replenish them,” Crute said.

For more information, visit cloversc.org. For information about the grants, visit CloverLEAFfoundation.net.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 1:21 PM with the headline "Little Free Libraries unite community."