What does Oxford and Lafayette County have in common with all 50 states and 70 countries around the world? 

“We are a part of a growing network of Little Free Libraries, a take a book, return a book, donate a book exchange,” said Brenda West, who brought the concept to her book club after seeing attractive boxes of books in public places while visiting Colorado and New Orleans. “On June 1, we will have three of the 36,000 registered LFL’s around the world with more popping up this summer.” 

The first Little Free Library was installed in Avent Park in September 2015, and two more will be unveiled Wednesday at the Stone Center Park and Price Hill Park.

Working with the Oxford Park Commission, who will maintain the structures, two local book clubs adopted the two new projects and will host a public unveiling at 10 a.m. at the Stone Center, followed by a 10:30 unveiling with refreshments to follow at Price Hill Park. Everyone is invited and anyone can take a book.

“There are no rules, no check-out procedures,” West said. “If you really love a book and want to share it with someone else, just pass it on. If you have a couple of books you want to donate, just drop them off in one of the three park libraries. Our goal is to keep a supply of books that will interest all ages.” 

Julie Chadwick, organizer for the Price Hill LFL, shared her enthusiasm of working with that neighborhood.   

“Through Margaret Gipson and Preston Taylor, we’re getting to know the Price Hill community,” she said. “I believe LFLs provide a great way for communities to become closer through sharing this love of reading.”

Members of the Round Table Book Club will see that the LFL at Stone Park has an assortment of children and adult books, while members of the Woman’s Book Club will keep the LFL at Price Hill filled with books. Julien Tatum constructed the two book boxes and Michele West Stuber and Claire Whitehurst used their artistic talents to make them an irresistible place to stop and check out the contents.

Members of the book clubs are dedicated to sharing their love of reading with everyone and invite the community to the unveiling of Little Free Libraries on Wednesday at Price Hill Park and Stone Park. 

“You might even find a great book to take home,” West said.