Scout project makes reading more accessible
In a digital world where cell phones and tablets make taking a break from daily life more and more complicated, the pages of a old-fashioned book offer more than just a story.
While information and entertainment may be more easily accessible on electronic devices, many people still prefer the feel of pages under their fingers and the chance to disconnect.
Several area youths are doing their part to make sure those looking for a respite don't have to look far, installing little free libraries in their communities.
There are more than 70,000 registered Little Free Libraries across the United States and 85 countries. Some are in parks and gardens. Others are in front yards or near storefronts. They can come in any shape or size.
In Butler County, there are several little libraries scattered in various parks and gathering points from Slippery Rock to Butler and beyond.
John Volkar, a 17-year-old incoming senior at Mars High School, first learned about the libraries from his father, John, who saw one while in Vienna, Austria. His mother, Diana, had seen them around Butler, and thought the idea would make for a good Eagle Scout project.
Volkar, a member of Scout Troop 400 in Mars, agreed, and began the process of placing four library boxes around the Mars and Adams Township area. He decided on Garfield Park, Clay Park, Pittsburgh Street in Mars and Adams Township Park.
As part of the process, Volkar had to approach the Adams Township supervisors and Mars Borough Council to seek permission and gauge support for the project, as well as the property owner of the Pittsburgh Street location. He said the feedback was instantly positive.
Mars Mayor Gregg Hartung said members of council had seen the benefit of similar projects in neighboring communities, and were pleased with the idea.
“There was no hesitation by council,” he said.
Hartung said Julie Schultheis, a member of the Mars Council and the parks and recreation committee, helped Volkar coordinate the project. He said officials from the Mars Public Library also offered suggestions and support along the way.
“It's a good venture and people are using them, which is great,” Hartung said.
With approval gained, Volkar began gathering supplies to build the boxes. The structures, which are made of wood and feature a glass door to show off the books inside, were assembled, painted and placed in the ground by members of Troop 400. Volkar said the construction took about a day, and helped fulfill a leadership requirement in his Eagle Scout quest.
“(The troop) came out and helped me when they didn't have to,” he said. “They could have done something else.”
Boxes installed, Volkar needed to find books to fill them. He received a large donation of children's books from a local dentist, as well as his parents, who are avid readers. He said he didn't want to fill the boxes to capacity at the beginning.
“Between those two donors I had more than enough to start, but I didn't want to fill them up completely,” he said. “I wanted to get the community involved.”So far, that appears to be happening. He said the Garfield Park box was only half full to start, but is now packed with books from community members. Other boxes are also thriving, and Volkar said he has heard from members of the community who have both taken and dropped off books.Volkar, who will find out this fall if he will be an Eagle Scout, said he hopes the community enjoys the boxes, and that they can serve as a reminder for residents.“I hope it inspires a lot of people to think about what they can do for their community and how they can help it,” he said.Just down Route 228, Cranberry Township's first Little Free Library went up in May 2015 built by Girl Scouts Claira Matthews and Zoe Stebbins. It sits near the restroom by the Kids Castle Playground in the Community Park.Claira and Zoe, who are in Troop 25141, completed the project for their Girl Scout Silver Award at the end of their seventh-grade year. Kim Matthews, Claira's mother and the Girl Scout troop leader, said the Silver Awards require Girl Scouts to work on a self-sustaining community project on an issue of which they are passionate.The girls, now sophomores, both love to read and had seen the Little Free Libraries elsewhere. They wanted to bring one to their town to make it easier for others to read while out and about in the park.“I love to read, so I wanted to give other kids the opportunity to read and not pay for books,” Claira said.After getting permission from the township, Claira and Zoe found a woodworker to help them construct the box for the library. They did much of the work staining, finishing and installing it.They stocked it with donated books from the library, from friends and from their own homes.At least twice a year they do upkeep and maintenance on the library, giving it a new coat of stain or cleaning and organizing the books. The library is covered and closed in the winter.“I go by there sometimes and we see new books,” Zoe said. “It's really cool to know that people are using it for its intended purpose.”Since then two more Little Free Libraries have popped up, one in North Boundary Park another in Graham Park near the fishing pond.
