Cantigny Park in Wheaton soon will have a new attraction, and it’s not a garden, a tank, or museum exhibit. Friday, May 7, the park plans to unveil a Free Little Library book exchange near the Red Oaks Farm playground. Visitors will take a book and share a book during park hours, seven days a week.
The initiative launches Cantigny’s partnership with Little Free Library (LFL), a nonprofit organization dedicated to building community, inspiring readers and expanding book access for all. It’s the world’s largest book-sharing movement, with more than 100,000 registered libraries in 108 countries. Wheaton has approximately 30, mostly in neighborhood front yards.
A ribbon-cutting is planned for 10 am Friday, May 7. Bernie’s Book Bank, based in Lake Bluff, will conduct a Children’s Book Drive on site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Only new or gently used books for ages birth through 6th grade reading levels will be accepted. Bernie’s mission is to collect and distribute books to the children who need them most throughout the Chicago area.
“It’s going to be a special day at Cantigny, and a great day for literacy,” said Alicia Catalano, Cantigny Park membership and retail operations manager. “We’ve been wanting a Little Free Library for some time now, and the pandemic set back our plans. But we know it’ll be worth the wait and the Library is a great fit with our playground and surrounding picnic area.”
The Little Free Library was built by Wheaton Rotary, which supports literacy in the community. Rotarians Tom Newman and Thor Davidson designed and constructed the Cantigny library with a farm theme, to complement the Red Oaks Farm playground.
Books in the Library are intended for beginning through young adult readers. Some titles will be provided by Cantigny, but all park visitors are encouraged to donate and, of course, take books home to enjoy.
In addition, Cantigny has signed on to Read in Color, a program supporting equity and inclusion that aims to bring diverse children’s books to Little Free Library book-sharing boxes around the world. The initiative by LFL began last Summer in Minneapolis, following the death of George Floyd.
— Cantigny Park