The graduating class of 2019 at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service will build a Little Free Library outside of Dunbar Magnet Middle School as its class gift. The library will be constructed in early August.
“For our class gift, we wanted to give something to the community,” said Class Representative Beth Quarles. “The Little Rock School District has been a wonderful community partner to the Clinton School so we immediately thought of them as a recipient of the gift.”
Clinton School students will initially supply the books for the Little Free Library. Quarles and Class President Madhav Shroff knew that they did not want the class gift to be a monetary burden for the graduating students. “We knew it was easier to donate books, and Beth came up with the idea for the Little Free Library,” Shroff said.
Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world. Through Little Free Libraries, millions of books are exchanged each year, increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds. There are more than 80,000 registered Little Free Library book-sharing boxes in 91 countries worldwide.
First, Quarles and Shroff reached out to Little Rock School District Superintendent Mike Poore. Poore then connected them with Principal Eunice Thrasher and Dunbar Magnet Middle School.
“Superintendent Poore was really on board,” Shroff said. “One of the things he was excited about is that books are a great indicator of student success in the future.”
The Dunbar location will be registered on the Little Free Library website and app. Both include a map feature that allows users to search for Little Free Libraries across the world.
“We are excited the Little Free Library will be placed at Dunbar Middle,” Quarles said. “That block is a great community center with the Dunbar Community Center, Dunbar Gardens, and Williams Library all within walking distance, so the Little Free Library will be a great addition. We can put help more books into the hands of families. We do hope other organizations and businesses in Little Rock would think about gifting a Little Free Library to other LRSD schools so the gift of books will continually grow.”