Logan residents discover innovative way to promote literacy, community involvement

All over the valley, tiny collections of books are popping up in wooden boxes, microwaves and even mini-refrigerators.

“Little Free Libraries,” as they are endearingly known, are small containers filled with books. These hidden treasures of Cache Valley are small in size but big in charm.

The containers are attached to wooden posts and are close in size to a mailbox or a birdhouse. These libraries are usually privately owned, operating outside of homes, but can sometimes be found in public places such as parks.

According to the Little Free Library Organization’s official website, Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisc., constructed the first Little Free Library in 2009. He modeled the mailbox-sized library after a one-room schoolhouse in tribute to his late mother, who was a literature-loving teacher. He regularly stocked the little library with books of all sorts, with the idea that people could take a book and leave a book. The community fell in love with Bol’s library and soon similar models began appearing around the small Wisconsin town.

Today, there are over 50,000 registered Little Free Libraries in existence, spreading over each state and reaching over seventy countries. In 2015, the Library of Congress honored the Little Free Library Organization “for its effective implementation of best practices in literacy and reading promotion.”

There are several Little Free Libraries in Logan, some started by Utah State University professors and others by citizens who simply want to spread the love of reading.

Christine Cooper-Rompato and her 10-year-old daugher, Kika Rompato, run a Little Free Library out of their front yard in south Logan. Cooper-Rompato has been teaching English at USU since 2004. Kika attends fifth grade at the Edith Bowen Laboratory School on campus. Starting the library in 2016 was Kika’s idea, inspired by her friend Chloe’s library. Chloe’s mother, Jennifer Duncan, is a librarian at the Merrill-Cazier Library on USU’s campus.

Kika built the library from scratch with her father, Giovanni Rompato. Cooper-Rompato said a common goal of the libraries is to construct them using recycled materials. Many of the materials for the Rompatos’ library are from the Habitat for Humanity center in Logan, which sells scrap pieces such as shingles and door knobs from old houses.

In order to build their little library, the family had to call 411 to make sure they were not digging into any pipelines. They urge others to do this, as many pipes were found in the spot where they originally intended to build.

Registering a Little Free Library is optional, but the $35 registration fee goes toward the Little Free Library non-profit organization, with the goal of promoting literacy throughout the world. Each registered little library is added onto the website’s map, which shows where every registered Little Free Library can be found.

Kika’s favorite genre is fantasy, so she makes sure to stock a plethora of fantasy novels. The mother and daughter say they also try to include books they think will appeal to their neighborhood. Since their home is located along a school bus route, they make sure to stock plenty of children’s books. Books in Spanish can also be found in the library, as there are many Spanish-speaking families in the area.

As the libraries are self-serviced and operate on the honor system Cooper-Rompato reported she was hesitant about the idea at first. She worried patrons might take all the books, vandalize the library or even leave pornographic material.

So far, they have only had one incident where all the books were taken at once. To combat this, they simply stamp the books, indicating that they are from a Little Free Library, which deters theft and resale of the books.

Cooper-Rompato and Kika said they have made friends and connected with the community through their Little Free Library.

“People will come up and say, ‘Oh, hey! You’re the ones with the Little Free Library!’” Cooper-Rompato said.

Cooper-Rompato and Kika enjoy scouring book sales to discover books to meet all sorts of interests. A baby name book, they said, disappeared from their shelves quicker than any others.

Through their little library, the Rompatos hope to strengthen ties in the community and promote literacy. Kika has also hidden a geocache in their library, which they hope will be another way to bring the community closer.

The Rompatos love when people stop by their little library, admitting that they sometimes peek out of their window to see which books people are taking.

For the past three years, the Cache Valley Library Association has sponsored a bike tour of Little Free Libraries around town called “The Bike to Books Library Tour.”

Starting at Hillcrest Elementary School and ending at Zootah (formerly known as the Willow Park Zoo), the route covers about seven-and-a-half miles. Events like the bike tour are what the Little Free Library organization hopes will bring communities together.

According to Kika and Cooper-Rompato, their experience running their Little Free Library has “restored their faith in humanity.”

— melodyj300@gmail.com

@melodyj300