'Talking is teaching': Coalition advocates Little Free Libraries program

MONROE — Thanks to a group of dedicated families, little libraries will continue to be stocked with books after the school year ends.

According to Bridgette Halcomb, Great Start Collaborative (GSC) director, the Little Free Libraries program is part of the Talking is Teaching project. Under the umbrella of the Monroe County Intermediate School District, Monroe County Great Start Collaborative is promoting an early childhood campaign focusing on getting young children ready for school and building a strong foundation for their social-emotional development, health and lifelong learning.

The GSC is funded through a grant provided by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). Part of that funding includes two parent-led initiatives.

The Family Coalition, made up of 23 families advocating and promoting early childhood education, meet monthly.

“These are parents of kids in Monroe County who meet at night once a month,” Halcomb said. “ They talk about parenting and planning based on needs they see as parents.”

Halcomb said the group has to come up with strategies which they are required to lead and the free little libraries became a part of that.

“We first thought we would build more libraries but there are so many in Monroe County that we decided it might be best to fill them with books,” she said. “We ordering books every month. They suggest the titles. They suggest the topics.”

With help from the Monroe County Library System Bookmobile and the national registry of Little Free Libraries, the group made a listing of libraries stocked with free books.

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“We came up with a list of 42 little free libraries across the county,” Jen Hay of Monroe, Great Start Collaborative family liaison said in a written statement. “The families are sorting the books, adding labels and delivering.”

Some of the books include (a parenting book) "How to Raise Good Humans" by Hunter Claire-Fields, “100 First Words/ Primeras 100 Palabras” by Priddy Books and "What Does Baby See? A First High Contrast Book" by Peter Pauper Primer. Bilingual books are also being placed in some of the libraries.

“Besides the great suggestions from the Family Coalition, we work hard to consider including high quality, featuring educational content, with diverse representation,” Hay said. “We have to make sure everything we put out there goes with the mission of the ISD.”

February was the first month books were placed at different locations. Close to 1200 books have been distributed. Depending on the need, some of the families stock the libraries once a week and others stock once a month.

Hay said the coalition will continue to participate in events in the summer and stock the libraries located in neighborhoods stocked.

“That way when people are out for a stroll they can take a book,” Halcomb said. “The premise is you can take books at any time and if you have books that you’ve read or are done with.”

“This a parent initiative. We gave them the idea,” Hay said. “It floors me how much they have taken this idea and run with it. I would not have expect how important this would have been to them.”

Hay said the reason why the little libraries are important to the community is because it’s where families already are.

“A lot of families have trouble getting to the library and these little free libraries are in places where families already are so it’s easy for them to stop by and grab a book or put a book in,” she said.

The next Family Coalition meeting is scheduled May 2 and open to the public. The meetings are free, include dinner for the whole family and free on-site childcare to those that register prior to the meeting. Meeting information will be emailed to those who are registered with the coalition. To register, contact Jennifer Hay at jennifer.hay@monroeisd.us or call 734-342-8654.

— Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: ‘Talking is teaching': Coalition advocates Little Free Libraries program