Adult Literacy Council Has Little Libraries Popping Up Throughout San Angelo

SAN ANGELO, TX - It's not uncommon for many to rely on the internet for most things in this day and time. Whether it be used for research, social networking, entertainment and/or educational purposes, the faster we get the information, the better. 

Sometimes it's hard to believe just a couple of decades ago, a person had to take a trip to a library to find such things. For those of us in a certain age group, we vividly remember looking through drawers of cards to find our topics location in the big library using the Dewey Decimal System. For those living in a big city, it was quite a treat when the Bookmobile came to our neighborhoods. Borrowing and returning books instilled a certain responsibility in a child, and returning one late would come out of a hard earned allowance. 

Despite the age of technology, however, books still have power.

Marilynn Golightly, executive director for the Adult Literacy Council of the Concho Valley, is a firm believer of the importance of reading, borrowing and enjoying actual books. The ALC, located at 59 East 6th Street, is a non-profit organization that offers many services promoting literacy (click here), and also hosts several events annually to bring awareness to its cause.

In an effort to branch out in the community, Golightly said, "We are very fortunate to have a number of volunteers who are building, painting, and stocking book boxes, which will be placed throughout the area in the near future. The idea is to take a book and leave a book. Some of our donors, for the project, include a local roofing company that has been putting metal roofs on them, and we've been receiving donations of lumber from both a local lumberyard and building contractor."

She added, "We have a group of Boy Scouts, a couple of local business owners and even one of our own tutors for the center working on these wonderful boxes. I want to have 20 or 30 of them and place them all over town to where kids, as well as families, will have access to the books."

Golightly mentioned octogenarian and tutor Ms. Janet Marlow, from Rio Concho, who is in the process of painting one at this time.

"She is doing something with tree leaves falling with a quote, 'In spite of the West Texas weather, there's still time to read,'" said Golightly.

She also said some of the honor students at ASU also do the little free libraries, and they have them at Kids Kingdom and Unidad Park.They just put children's books in there, however.

"I put everything from cook books to Bibles, as well as kids books," Golightly stated.

So, for those people who happen upon one of these works of art that resemble a cute little doll house, these book boxes are part of a city-wide reading exchange. Please leave them be, but feel free to take a book and leave a book for the next person.

 
"We had [a box] over at Glenmore Park that I thought had been stolen, but it was actually just knocked over. We're wanting to get the word out for this project so people will know what the little boxes are," Golightly said.

As for an estimate of when the project will be completed, she stated, "We have no formal deadline to complete these boxes as we rely on volunteers." 

The ALC is working in conjunction with the Parks Department and the San Angelo Police Department.  

"Police Chief Frank Carter is a good friend who heads up the 'Badges and Books program,' and we're glad to have him helping us out with what we're doing," Golightly added.

 If you would like more information about this project or the ALC, please call (325) 657-0013.