Sarasota County installs Little Free Libraries in parks

Thanks to a county departmental collaboration, there are new additions to the Little Free Library system in Sarasota County.

Five of the stand-alone book depositories will be placed in parks around the county. These small, mailbox-like libraries run on the honor system of “take a book, leave a book.” The program encourages neighbors and communities to share different books and discover new literature.

Three county departments combined efforts to get the libraries: Libraries and Historical Resources; Parks Recreation and Natural Resources, and the Sarasota County Extension and Sustainability office. The boxes cost just under $2,000.

Libraries and Historical Resources have filled the libraries with donated books for all ages.

"They provide financial benefit as a low-cost way of saving people money in buying books and promoting the shared economy; they provide environmental benefit by keeping books circulating and out of the landfill; and they provide a social benefit through improving literacy and getting books in the hands of people who may not be able to afford them," said Lee Hayes Byron, Sustainability manager, in the press release by the county.

According to the Little Free Library organization, there are about 15,000 of these lending locations around the world. Users can find locations near them on the organization's website. Sarasota County is already home to a few of them, which were installed by residents and businesses, according to the release by the county. One is located at 2685 Temple Street. Lakewood Ranch also has a Little Free Library of its own. 

"In addition to the existing amenities such as recreation centers, gymnasiums, playgrounds, tennis courts and walking trails, you can now also take a break and enjoy a good book in a natural setting or read to your kids at the playground and then swap out a book to read together at home," said Carolyn Brown, director of Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources.

Here is a list of the five new locations:

• Twin Lakes Parks, Sarasota County IFAS/UF Extension, 6700 Clark Rd.,
• Urfer Family Park, 4000 Honore Ave.,
• Colonial Oaks Park, 5300 Colonial Oaks Blvd., 
• Longwood Park, 6050 Longwood Run Blvd.,
• Shamrock Park, 3900 Shamrock Drive, Venice.