*Disclosure:  I was provided with some books and the Little Free Library.  All of the story details are my own.*

Over the last few months, I have been given the opportunity to do something amazing in our community.  Install a Little Free LIbrary!  When I first heard about it, I had absolutely no idea what it was, but seeing this opportunity, I knew I wanted in.  I did some research and found out a little more.  You see, all I heard was the word “library” and that was enough for me.  There are some places that I could get lost, and libraries and book stores are two of them.  I love books.  I love reading, and over the last 3 1/2 years, I have enjoyed watching Maggie and Charlie develop a love for reading also.  Shortly before the library arrived at our house, I went to my Godson’s basketball game and got my first look at a Little Free Library!

Books are one thing that I think everybody should have and love.  I know people have gotten on board with the whole Kindle idea, or other digital books, but there is absolutely nothing that can replace the feel and smell of real books.  {Do you think I’m crazy?} The best way to love books is to have access to them.  Not all that long ago, the only book store in our town closed.  I was so bummed!  I loved taking the kids up there for story time because it was so fun for them.  There isn’t a library in town, so now, we were down to nothing.  The Little Free Library concept is perfect!  You get to install a small library on a post in the community, and people can freely take and leave books.  Are you excited about it yet?  First up though is to decide where the perfect place in our community is.

As soon as the library arrived, it took up residence in our house where I looked at it day after day trying to decide where it would most benefit our community.  The coffee shop in town sounded like a great place for it.  I set out for town one day to go talk to them about it, but as I was driving, I was struck with an even better idea.  Dairy Queen!  Seriously, how many of you have awesome memories of going to Dairy Queen as a kid and sitting outside chatting or playing?  I know I do.  So what if the idea came to me because I am pregnant and thought I should have ice cream, right?!  So I changed direction and went in to talk with the manager of the Dairy Queen.  Right away she was on board with it.  While we waited for the approval from the district manager, I was busy getting started with donations.

To start with, Post Alpha-Bits sent us not only the library itself, but also 10 books to go with it.  While we waited to install it, the kids and their friends had fun “borrowing” books in our living room.  I was amazed at how quick people were to donate books for the library.  In no time at all, I had more than a box full of books.

Then came the fun stuff.  We headed to Menards to pick up some paint and the lady in the paint department was really excited when she heard what it was for and assured me that she would be there to use it regularly.  Then, John got to work painting {we even used Dairy Queen colors to match}.  On the sides are some cool Super WHY! characters provided by Alpha-Bits to promote reading skills as well as encourage children everywhere to become Super Readers!

Yay!  It is finally time to install the Little Free Library!  Our family, along with Angie, the store manager at the Dairy Queen, her district manager and Debbie, a writer for the Star News were all there for the big day!  Having some ice cream treats outside as we got it installed was such a great start to the day.

What made it even more exciting was that later on that day, my sister happened to be driving through town and sent me this picture of the Little League team with some of them checking out the Little Free Library.

If you have been looking for a way to make a difference in your community, the Little Free LIbrary is a great way to do that.  For details on how to get started, visit their website.

If you happen to live around here, be sure to head up to Dairy Queen for some treats and check out the Little Free Library and let me know what you think!