Little Free Library a Community-Driven Resource
This article is part of a series on the passionate people behind the Little Free Libraries in Marshfield. A list of locations can be found here.
Dog walkers heading up Lincoln Avenue have an extra reason to get involved with reading.
The Little Free Library installed on a private property has the extra detail of a pail of dog treats, with more pet-friendly additions planned for the future.
“We have two cats and a dog, and they’re a large part of our life,” said builder Mark Garrett, who installed the library in his front yard in the fall. “Our dog goes with us everywhere. If I go to a job site, he’s my constant companion.” He and girlfriend Angie Wirkus show their love for animals by volunteering for Marshfield Area Pet Shelter.
The library evolves as ideas come to him, and he’s considering adding more additions like a leash hook and fresh water to make the stop even more pet-friendly. Most recently, he installed a box of plastic bags for easy clean-up.
Garrett started building the library in his workshop in September, having seen a Little Free Library in Albuquerque, New Mexico several years ago.
“We both really liked the idea,” he said. “We thought it was a wonderful way to encourage literacy.”
Not wanting to use new materials, Garrett used things he had on-hand to construct the wooden library. “I built it out of all the materials that were recycled or leftover from when we remodeled,” he explained. “That was important to us.”
The final result was a library that was a partial replica of their home, with similar green siding and a peaked roof. A sign invites passerby to take or leave a book to keep the library full and maintain the book exchange. Garrett said the library has gotten a lot of traffic and at least one person a day stops by, including parents who come by with their children to drop off books.
Though it’s set up in his front yard, Garrett doesn’t think of the library as his own.
“It’s not really ours, it’s the community’s,” he said. “I want to see the community make it what they want.”
That means people can fill the library how they wish. He also said that if someone doesn’t have a book to share, they can still take one from the box.
Above all, the library is a way to connect the neighborhood. “It’s a way to create community,” he said. “You wind up talking to people you wouldn’t otherwise.”
As might be expected, Garrett is an avid reader who prefers reading to watching television. “When I want to relax, I’d rather read a book,” he said. “There’s way more stuff to do in life than be glued to the TV.”
He makes time to read a little each day and likes to read nonfiction, especially books about woodworking. “I think everyone should read more,” he said. “You can never know enough about any subject.”
