How Little Libraries Came to Be
I believe every person on this planet is exceptional and has their own unique blend of abilities and gifts to offer the world. What would the world look like today if each person gave their best to it, and to each other? And so I asked myself “what is my unique gift that I can offer?”.
Children’s books have always been special to me. I have always admired them, bought them as gifts, and donated them to worthy causes. If I’m being honest, I have also dreamed about writing them, so perhaps that is in my future as well. For today, I am using my love for children and their books to build my own library, volunteer as a reader in my community, and to share my experience and enthusiasm with the world via Little Libraries.
My career thus far has been in computer science and more recently as a website creator. I have also done my fair share of writing throughout my career. So I have some skills to help shine light on this topic, and to encourage and support others who would like to get involved themselves.
The magic of reading with a child only happens when you are actually reading with a child (or children). As one person being a community reader, I am but a drop in the bucket of need. But if I can encourage others to do a similar thing, if we can create a group, a movement if you will, of people who read with children and supply them with books, then we really could make a difference!
Whether I/we inspire many children, or just one child. That inspiration is golden – a light that can inspire a child for the rest of their life. And who knows what that child could be capable of achieving? That is where the magic happens: one child, one reading, one book at a time.
I used to daydream about doing a project like Little Libraries someday. But sometime in 2024 it hit me that this project could actually help many people. It occurred to me, what if I can help other people who desire to do a similar thing? What if all of us that have felt this love for children and books built libraries and read with the children in our lives and communities? How much good could be done for this world?
Once it hit me that this project could end up inspiring and helping so many people (including the readers themselves)… that is was possible!… dare I even say probable that this could be done, I realized that I would have to try. That I would regret it if I didn’t try. Not coincidentally, others ‘moons’ have aligned in my life allowing me the space and time to devote to this project. So, off we go… and I hope you will come along and see what we can do together!
