Little Free Library

The first Little Free Library has officially opened in Hanscom Park and has been registered with the non-profit organization, littlefreelibrary.org. Come visit charter #9387 on the Avenue, located on 32nd Avenue between Martha and Castelar Streets.

The Little Free Library is “take a book, return a book” gathering place where neighbors share their favorite literature and stories. In its most basic form, a Little Free Library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book to share.

During the 2013 Mayor’s Neighborhood Grants program, local Central High School students, Alec Williams and James DeMott, approached HPNA with a request to fund a community board for the Hanscom Bark Park and two Little Free Libraries. The project was part of Central High School’s International Baccalaureate degree program, which requires a community service project as part of the program criteria for graduation. The two seniors earned the grant, which covered the cost of one community board and materials to construct the lending libraries.



The first of the two Little Free Libraries opened this past spring and has been going strong all summer. Located on the west side of 32nd Avenue at the Williams’ family residence at 2328 S. 32nd Ave, the library has seen a steady stream of visitors since its opening. “I love looking out our window and seeing neighborhood kids ride up to the library with a bag of books to donate,” said Tammy Williams, Alec’s mother and homeowner. “As Alec goes off to college this fall, my husband, John and I are happy to be the library’s keepers, and encourage our neighborhood to take books and return books when you’re through with them. Reading is a great pastime and we love that we’re able to contribute this experience to the neighborhood.” Williams noted that children’s books tend to move more quickly than adult books, but it’s good to have a wide range of books circulating in the library, which changes frequently as books are taken and others donated.

The Williams have a second lending library looking for a good home, ideally some distance from charter #9387. The libraries work best when installed in a front yard where they can be managed and looked after daily. If you are interested in hosting the second library in our neighborhood, please contact Tammy and John Williams at 402-553-3548. For more information on lending libraries and to see our charter listing on the world map, visit littlefreelibrary.org.