The Wayland Union school district is looking for builders, sponsors and hosts for Little Free Libraries.

Director of Instruction Teresa Fulk said the idea is to increase students’ access to books over the summer with a small, enclosed, weather resistant book case that serves as a book exchange location for children and adults alike. Users of Little Free Libraries can borrow books from the library and return them after they’ve read them and exchange for a new book. 

“Some of our students have difficulty accessing books over the summer and other times when school is not in session,” Fulk said. “Our goal is by increasing the number of Little Free Libraries that are in our district, we will increase our students’ access to books and in turn increase the time that they spend reading over the summer. We know that our students experience summer learning loss over summer break, one of the greatest way to combat this learning loss is to keep kids reading all summer long.”

There two Little Free Libraries in the district now, one near the southern edge of the district near Gun Lake, and one in Dorr. The project goal is to increase the number of Little Free Libraries to at least 100 to increase the likelihood that students live close enough to one to walk to it and exchange books frequently through the summer. 

Fulk asks, “Can you build a library or do you know someone who would? Would you be willing to sponsor a library so it can be registered on the little free library webpage (approx. $45)? Do you live in the district? Would you be willing to host a Little Free Library in your yard?” 

If the answer to any of the above questions is “yes,” please contact Teresa Fulk, Director of Instruction at Wayland Union Schools for details. (Fulkt@waylandunion.org)