Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
JOHN DEMARIO, left, and Jerry Pisani show off the Little Free Library they made to be installed in Ironwood's Depot Park at a ribbon-cutting event in June. The library, donated by the local chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, allows users to borrow a book and return it when they're done or replace it with a different one.
By RICHARD JENKINS
Ironwood - Those enjoying Festival Ironwood activities over the next several days may notice a new feature in Depot Park, as the city workers installed a Little Free Library in front of the Old Depot Building that houses the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce and Ironwood Historical Society Monday.
The little library, a replica of the depot building behind it, uses the "take a penny, leave a penny" concept honor system to spread literacy in communities. Users can take a book from the library, returning it when they are done or replacing it with a different book.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in June for the Little Free Library, but Chamber director Michael Meyer said a stand needed to be built for it before it could be put out.
Meyer said the library is the first of its kind in the city.
"This is the first one, and it would be really neat to have more of them. Just like the trail started out (and) now it's a big thing, well the Little Free Library has started out," Meyer said. "By having them, what it does is it tells people reading and books are good things."
The library was donated by the local chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa International Society for Women Educators.
Chapter president Jean Flateau said the group got the idea from little libraries members had seen elsewhere in the country.
While the one Jerry Pisani and John DeMario made for Depot Park is relatively ornate, Meyer said they don't have to be complicated and can be put up almost anywhere.
"Many, many cities have them all over. You can have a little free library in front of your house, you can have them in front a church, in front a park, it can be in front of a business," Meyer said. "Anyone can have one."
He said he is even considering putting one in front of his house.
Once installed, a library can be registered at littlefreelibrary.org, where it will be added to a map of libraries around the world.
While the library in Depot Park can house adult books, Flateau said it was primarily intended for kids.
Meyer said that makes it a perfect resource for people who have books their kids have outgrown.
"A lot of people have kids books and the kids are gone, while here's a chance - for this one - to bring kid books. Because, guess what we have here at Depot Park - kids," he said. "Here's a chance for them to have a book without paying any money for it."
He would like to see more libraries appear around town, asking people to imagine what the community would be like with 15 libraries spread throughout the area.
"It puts an idea in your head when you see it," Meyer said. "If the opportunity is there, it pops into people's heads."
While the installation of the library in Depot Park may be the first in the city, there are several others either installed or planned around the Gogebic Range.
The Iron County Farmers Market and Northwinds Natural Food Co-op are both planning to install libraries, while a comments on a local Facebook page said libraries may be located at the Hurley K-12 School and the Gogebic County Park on Lake Gogebic. Commenters also said there were plans to develop several in Bessemer.
For more information on Little Free Libraries, as well as plans for building one, visit littlefreelibrary.org.
