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Little Library joins Brooke County’s library system

FOLLANSBEE — In an effort to make books accessible to more people, the Brooke County Public Library has added a little library on Hooverson Heights.

On Wednesday Alex Eberle, the library’s director, unveiled the library, which includes assorted books for all ages and reading levels stored in a former advertising flyer box donated by the Herald-Star and Weirton Daily Times.

Each book may be returned or replaced with a new book for the library, which is found outside Spectrum Family Massage and Bodywork on Rockdale Road.

Eberle noted the yellow box is among nearly 40,000 such libraries based on the honor system and registered at littlefreelibraryorg. To be exact, it’s number 42,986 among those posted on the website.

She said those interested in learning more about the libraries may go to the website or read a new book, by Margaret Aldrich, acquired by the Wellsburg library.

The Little Free Library designation began in 2009 with Todd Bol, an artisan; and Rick Brooks, a youth and community development leader; who teamed to create one in Wisconsin.

But the practice of small free libraries based on the honor system also can be traced to Lutie Stearns, a Wisconsin librarian who maintained traveling little libraries between 1895 and 1914.

Robin Cole, president of the Friends of the Brooke County Library, said the volunteer support group had considered establishing a Little Free Library after reading about them and seeing them while traveling.

Locally, such libraries have been established outside Wellsburg Christian Church by members of its congregation and outside Chambers Store in Bethany through the efforts of Jack Hoffman and Herb Weaver.

Though the latter isn’t a designated Little Free Library, the same principle applies.

Eberle said the Hooverson Heights Little Free Library is an experiment and others, while not planned currently, are a possibility. She said a Beech Bottom location was considered for it, but the Hooverson Heights site was chosen because the basement of the adjacent building once housed the Hooverson Heights branch of the Brooke County Library.

She thanked Rachel Williams Carey, owner of Spectrum Family Massage, for allowing it to be posted outside her business.

Eberle said the new library is the result of a collaborative effort.

The Friends of the Brooke County Library, which secured funds for the sign, which was attached by Jim Brockman, director of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Museum, while brackets for it were painted and installed by Doug Lilly, while she and staff cleaned and painted the box itself.

Eberle noted library patrons also may access a variety of eBooks through the library’s online service at https://wvreads.overdrive.com.

She added lovers of physical books should visit the Brooke County Library on June 19 and 21-24 for a large used book sale, when an assortment of reading material will be available for very low prices.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)

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