Baldwin Wallace University’s student organizations Book Jackets and Circle K International partnered to bring a Little Free Library to BW’s campus, giving students and the community access to free books.
The wooden library, constructed in mid-November, is located by the rose garden in between Marting and Dietsch halls and will soon house books donated by members of both groups.
Bella Issa, vice president and co-founder of BW Book Jackets and senior theater major, was one of innovators of the project.
“I think reading is one of the most important things in the world, for so many reasons,” Issa said. “Reading makes people see the world differently.”
Issa and president of BW Book Jackets, Ursula Saadeh, began the planning process during the Spring 2023 semester.
It is a hope between the two of them that the library will foster a greater appreciation for reading across BW’s campus.
“Little Free Libraries” are enclosures built outside, secured with a post in the ground, that act as libraries with a “take a book, leave a book” policy, Issa said.
According to the official Little Free Library website—which is a nonprofit based in Minnesota— the main goal of the libraries is “to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-exchange boxes.”
BW Book Jackets and Circle K International wanted to bring this goal to BW’s campus and the Berea community.
“We don’t really live close to many bookstores,” said Issa. “So, we want to make it a possibility that there’s this lovely community outpost, where everybody can just enjoy reading.”
Circle K International has attempted to set up a Little Free Library in Berea in the past, which is why the two groups decided to partner together for this project, Issa said. Another reason for the partnership is the shared financial responsibility for the project.
There are kits available to purchase to construct the libraries, but the two organizations opted to buy the materials separately and design it themselves. This allowed for the library to be bigger and fit more books.
Sophomore biology major and BW Book Jackets’ treasurer, Maddie Keil, oversaw the construction of the library. It is made of wood, three and a half feet tall, two feet wide, and two feet deep, with three shelves inside of it. BW Book Jackets and Circle K International might organize these shelves so there is one for kids’ books, one for young adult books, and one for adult, said Keil.
Senior graphic design major and President of Circle K International, Claire Fisher, was brought into the project at the beginning of fall semester.
“Having a bigger one ended up being beneficial,” said Fischer. “We have so many members just in Circle K and Book Jackets that are already willing to donate books, so it’s good that we have a lot of space to put them in.”
Members of the two groups who joined in the painting of the library were all encouraged to bring a book they were willing to donate. Once it is finished, BW students, as well as members of the Berea community, can take a book of their choosing, and leave another one in its place if they would like to.
“A sense of community, I think that’s really important,” said Keil. “We’re really pushing into the idea of ‘take a book, leave a book.’”
The Little Free Library is especially important to the vice president of BW Book Jackets, who was one of the founders of the club and will be graduating this spring.
“It feels like a permanent legacy on BW’s campus for BW Book Jackets,” Issa said.
The painting of the Little Free Library is set to conclude by the end of the semester. After originally painting it a bright blue color, the groups plan to add floral designs to match the rose garden the library sits next to.
The library will soon be open to any who wishes to peruse the book selection, donate to the collection, or both.
