There’s a new little library in downtown

Ginger Cook, Linda Maylone, and Paul Cook show off the inside of their Little Free Library.

By Carolyn Marnon – There’s a new Little Free Library in Wayne, and it’s waiting for you to visit.  Located at the First United Methodist Church, 3 Town Square, the latest addition to the collection of little libraries around town was conceived of by Linda Maylone, a member of the United Methodist Women.  Linda loves reading and was inspired by the little libraries that the Wayne Rotary had done.  She was inspired to have one made for the church.
Enter Paul Cook, a longtime member of First United Methodist. He made a rough sketch of what the little church should look like and then “I just built it,” he says, using items he had sitting around in his garage.  The door is a stained glass butterfly he brought here from Kentucky.  The butterfly is known as a symbol of resurrection and change in the Christian religion.  The church sits on a post made of 4 x 4 pieces.  Those pieces were the only supplies that had to be purchased. The church even has a steeple with the cross and flame symbol of the Methodist church. You will notice the little church library is larger than the other ones around Wayne.
The newest library was installed about a month ago.  Linda, Paul and Ginger Cook, Paul’s wife, envision flowers set on the bare part of the post with a sign hanging down. They would like to eventually see a bench nearby under a tree where residents can sit and read what they’ve taken from the little library.  Linda is researching information on getting the library registered with littlefreelibrary.org.
The library is stocked with two shelves of books.  It is hoped that this will be the little free library to come to when you feel the need to read an inspirational or religious book. The concept of the little library is simple.  Open the door and find a book that interests you.  Take the book with you and read it.  You can keep the book, but it is hoped that you will return the book to one of the little libraries along with donating any of your used books there also.  You don’t have to donate to take.  You can donate and not take.  The choice is yours.
The United Methodist Women have a reading plan where they read books on social issues, leadership, and nurturing the community. They plan to put these books in the library when they are done with them.  They also want to see fun books in the library.
Perhaps Wayne will one day have a walking map of little free libraries you can visit on a sunny afternoon.  Perhaps other groups and organizations will build little free libraries and have them placed around town.  What a wonderful way to exercise and promote literacy at the same time.