TURNER — Northland TrueValue Hardware and Turner Public Library have teamed up to create a Little Free Library to provide books for those who enjoy reading but are unable to get to the public library as often as they’d like.
The first Little Free Library was built in 2009 and installed in Hudson, Wisc. to help provide a free book exchange for those who had books they wanted to share with those who wanted to read. There are now over 90,000 Little Free Library book exchanges in 91 countries, and over a million books are exchanged each year.
Turner’s new Little Free Library came about after a series of text messages between Northland TrueValue owner Jenny Maheu and Turner Public Library Director Ellen Bradley; the little library will be installed at Northland Plaza on Route 4.
“I’d seen a few Little Free Libraries and I thought it would be nice to have one in Turner,” Maheu said. “With the COVID-19 slowdown, it was a project we had time to take on. When I texted Ellen at the library about it, she said the library had been thinking about one, too.”
Maheu got the plans from the Little Free Library organization’s website and gave them to Turner resident and Northland TrueValue associate Pete Pilsbury, who set to work building the Little Free Library. Little Free Libraries, which are small, two-shelf bookcases with plexiglass windows in the doors, are recognized for their distinctive shapes, resembling a tiny, old fashioned library.
Once the structure was built, Pete enlisted the help of his wife and Turner Historical Society member Nat Pilsbury to do the painting. The green of the Little Free Library is the same as that of the Turner Public Library logo, tying the two libraries together. “In a way, it’s our first branch library outside the Leavitt Institute, and we’re excited to stock it,” said Bradley. Turner Public Library has already provided the first set of books – a mixture for readers of all ages and interests. “We have plenty of books that we’re happy to see go to those who will enjoy them.”
Turner’s Little Free Library has a special galvanized roof to help it last through many Maine winters. The galvanizing was done by Tri Star Sheet Metal Company of Turner, making this a true community project.
During the COVID-19 virus response period, book enthusiasts are welcome to take a book from the Northland Plaza Little Free Library but are asked not to put any donated books into the exchange at this time. “Right now, we’re following guidelines that recommend that we quarantine books for a period of time that we know will allow them to be exchanged safely,” Bradley added.
Donations to the Little Free Library can be dropped into the book drop at the Turner Public Library, and the library will make sure to follow the CDC’s instructions for handling materials without putting the public at risk. When the inventory in the Little Free Library gets low, the Turner Public Library will add more.
When asked whether additional Little Free Libraries will be installed around Turner, Maheu and Bradley agreed that for now, the Northland Plaza location will be the first run jointly by the two organizations. Maheu explained, “If people like it and use it, there’s no reason we can’t do more. We’ll test this one and see what people think.”
PHOTO: Turner Public Library mascot French Fry hanging out at the Little Free Library located near Food City at the Northland Plaza on Route 4. (Submitted photo)
