The staff, community and students are coming together with the goal to promote reading in this technology-focused century. However, with so many people working behind the Little Free Library campaign, students here could soon find a free book in their hands.

The concept of a Little Free Library was started in 2009 near Hudson, Wisconsin. Typically, a small bookshelf is shaped to resemble a house, bus or school, and is placed in a front yard or common area of the community. The case holds free books for anyone to take. Readers are asked to donate a book when they take one, to keep the process going.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][image_with_animation image_url=”5685″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Photo provided by Little Free Library[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The idea came to Hebron when language arts teacher Donna Friend attended a workshop over the summer. Speaker Penny Kittle presented the idea that on average, college freshmen were expected to read 200-600 pages a week. Friend came to the realization that students at Hebron do not meet that expectation at all.

“We are essentially sending them to the game to play without practicing at all,” Friend said “We can’t do that to our students.”

According to Huffington Post, reading generally helps ease stress, keeps the brain sharp and help you sleep better. Imagine a student population that is less uptight, smarter and more awake in their classes.

The Little Libraries are being built by the Theatre Tech department, under the direction of teacher Thomas Legally. The group began brainstorming design ideas on Sept. 1 and started building them the following Monday. They decided to design the libraries by genre, making each one unique to the books that will soon be held inside them.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][image_with_animation image_url=”5686″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]photo by Hannah Arnold[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]“As soon as I knew there was a place to do it, and that students were involved, that’s when I knew that we were going to make this happen,” Friend said.

The campaign is being put together solely with donations. A lumber company donated surplus wood, allowing the Little Libraries to be built. PTSA moms have donated gallons of paint and paintbrushes, and Home Depot agreed to cut $50 off any purchase made for the Hebron Reads Movement. Teachers have donated books to get the Little Libraries running properly. The books usually have been meaningful to the donor, and according to Friend sometimes the donor writes notes to the reader inside the books.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][image_with_animation image_url=”5688″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self” img_link_large=”yes”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][image_with_animation image_url=”5689″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][image_with_animation image_url=”5690″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]photos by Hannah Arnold[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]According to Friend, the Little Libraries are something that could radically change campus dynamics. Not only will students have the opportunity to read a free book, but they also will have the freedom to change books as many times as they like – even keep one if they really enjoy it. The process is restriction free, without any kind of return policies. The Little Libraries will probably be in the hallways by the end of the month.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][image_with_animation image_url=”5691″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self” img_link_large=”yes”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][image_with_animation image_url=”5692″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self” img_link_large=”yes”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][image_with_animation image_url=”5695″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][image_with_animation image_url=”5694″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][image_with_animation image_url=”5697″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]photos by Hannah Arnold[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]“Reading should be like trying on clothes,” Friend says. “Every shirt is not going to fit. Just because one shirt doesn’t fit, doesn’t mean you go topless for the rest of your life. You just keep trying until you find one that fits. And that’s what I’m encouraging kids to do [with books].”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]