The City of Miami Commission on May 9 unanimously approved a resolution sponsored by District 4 Commissioner Manolo Reyes to make reading more accessible to residents in his district.
The resolution creates the Little Community Libraries, a one-year pilot program that will place small temporary structures containing books on private properties and parks throughout District 4, making free books available to residents. The program allows the public to take, return or add new books from a wooden box, and have become popular in many cities throughout Florida such as Orlando, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, St. Augustine, Sunrise, Coral Gables and El Portal.
“I am proud to bring this program to the City of Miami for the first time and to be able to provide free books to our residents, especially children, just in time for summer break,” said Reyes, a former educator. “Reading a book can change a life and it is an opportunity that everyone should have.”
The city’s Parks Department will place the first of the Little Community Libraries in Coral Gate Park, West End Park, Bryan Park and Shenandoah Park, all within District 4. Additionally, Neighborhood Resource Officers assigned to District 4 will have portable Little Libraries in their vehicles for residents to enjoy.
A donation of 200 children’s books has been secured from Friends of the Library and Commissioner Reyes also is working with Lake Worth Little Free Libraries Inc. to assist in securing 16 Little Libraries structures and books to be donated to parks and elementary schools in District 4 that choose to participate in the program.
To locate a Little Library in the City of Miami visit Littlefreelibrary.org.
