Readers in Rock County will have additional locations to pick up or drop off a book as part of the Little Free Library program that allows people to take books and return them once they’re read.
The Rock County Early Childhood Initiative is coordinating the project with the help of the Luverne Area Chamber and Rock County Community Library.
“The whole idea is to encourage people to read and use the library,” said Karen Willers, ECI member.
Friends of the Library have donated available books, and ECFE is providing children’s books.
Four proposed locations — Luverne City Park, Luverne Community Education, Redbird Field and Blue Mounds State Park — will be stocked with children’s and adult books.
Each location has small structures to protect the books from the elements.
“This ‘book shelter’ offers travelers, visitors and residents the opportunity to stop by and pick up a book,” said Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere.
“They can have it for as long as they want or they can keep it. They are asked to replace the book at the same little library or at another one. The purpose is getting people to read.”
The most recent one was installed at the Blue Mounds campground.
Ray Vander Wolde built that one for the Luverne Chamber and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. It cost $300 and was built with shingles and permanent siding.
The CVB will be in charge of keeping books stocked and for maintaining the structures.