A Free Little Library at the Barden

Step behind the sturdy kiosk that greets you at the trailhead at Herrontown Woods' main parking lot, and a world of books opens up. This Little Free Library, stored in a cabinet beneath the kiosk's protective roof, is part of a global network meant to inspire readers who may find a personally relevant book on these shelves.

The nearly 200,000 Little Free Libraries around the world are created and maintained by volunteers. In our case, that would be Laura Heil of Montgomery, NJ, whose son-in-law Adrian has been a FOHW board member. My indelible first impression of Laura came during a workday, when she showed up with a chainsaw to help clear fallen tree limbs. Creating and maintaining this mini-library shows another dimension of her devotion to the community. 

Though this quiet, unassuming collection of books doesn't call out for attention, and may be missed by those passing by to walk the trails, its location is particularly auspicious given the many places to sit and read at our Botanical Art Garden. The Barden, as we call it, is many things to many people, but with two shelves of books at the ready, the Barden becomes an outdoor library, with many little nooks for cozying up with a good book. 

Thanks to Laura for realizing and maintaining this vision. In her own words:

"The Little Free Library is regularly cleaned up and organized, and restocked with new titles for kids and adults.  Fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, craft books, children's board books  as well as paper, books for teens, and copies of Nat Geo for kids are all in here!  I have been doing this since the beginning of the LFL."