Mark Durham, a Morgantown, W.Va., resident, donates books for the mini-library at Hazel Ruby McQuain Park.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Literacy Volunteers of Monongalia and Preston Counties have put a new spin on public libraries. The Ruby Reed Mini Library Boxes look like enlarged mailboxes, but they contain between 25-30 books at a time, are accessible 24/7 and operate under a “take a book, leave a book” policy.
“The idea of public libraries is to give kids access to books who normally would not have access to them,” said Nathaniel Collins, a Preston County Basic Reading Americorps VISTA volunteer. “Libraries have limited hours, limited days that they’re open and sometimes parents are unable to bring their kids to those libraries or sometimes the towns don’t even have libraries in them.”
There are currently four mini libraries in operation, with a plan to build six more before the end of the month. The four boxes in use are located at Hazel Ruby McQuain Park, next to the bus depot; Monongalia Friends Meeting House on Brockway Ave. in Morgantown; All Things Possible (Food for Preston) House in Bruceton Mills, W.Va., and Arthurdale Heritage Inc. at Q & A road West Virginia 92.
The “take a book, leave a book” policy is a simple one. The LVMPC encourages library patrons to borrow a book that interests them, and, in turn, leave a book they have enjoyed reading and would like to share with others.
A roadside mini library may not seem like a hot commodity in rural West Virginia, but volunteers quickly realized their books were flying off the shelves…
