By 1808Delaware
Ashley is clearly a place where readers live.
Case in point — the village just received its second “Little Free Library,” where books can be exchanged freely and often.
The project involved both the village’s Wornstaff Memorial Public Library as well as the Ashley Village Council.
According to its website, the Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization based in Hudson, Wisconsin, with a mission to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries.
More than 90,000 public book exchanges are registered with the organization and branded as Little Free Libraries, many of them outside public and in areas of high public traffic.
Little Free Library book-sharing boxes play an essential role by providing 24/7 access to books (and encouraging a love of reading!) in areas where books are scarce. millions of books are exchanged each year, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds.
The first Little Free Library in Ashley has been a fixture at the Village pool at 6020 Ohio 229, and the new one is located at Newman Park, 5125 Shoemaker Road.
The Library purchased the new Little Free Library with funds from the estate of Fraser Bell.
The Wornstaff Memorial Public Library date to 1928 and was funded with a bequest from Chesley and Elsa Wornstaff. Funding comes from the Public LIbrary Fund, private endowments, as well as levies from the Village of Ashley and Oxford Township.
Sources: Wornstaff Memorial Public LIbrary, Wikipedia; Photo: Creative Commons License
