Apple Valley’s Mariana Academy Opens a Little Free Library

APPLE VALLEY – Mariana Academy opened a Little Free Library on Thursday. Some may wonder what a Little Free Library even is, since they are somewhat uncommon. With the realization that over 60 percent of low-income families do not have any books in their home, first-grade teacher Diane Witthaur decided that something had to be done.

Witthauer worked diligently for four years planning the project and officially registering the library with the Little Free Library organization.Troy Springer, a parent volunteer helped to bring the plan into action, building the library out of recycled materials donated from Shedworld and from various other school sites.

The Little Free Library runs with the “take a book, return a book” method of free book exchange. To date, over 50,000 of these small libraries that are in the form of a small box or bookcase placed in public areas throughout 70 countries. . “We hope to provide a resource for these families,” Principal Kristin Dupree said. “The intention is for families to take a book and return it when they are done, or leave a different book in its place.”

The charming, horse shoe decorated box of books was constructed and placed just outside Mariana Academy’s fences giving students access to books, even when school is not in session. “While we know there is a high chance that we will need to deal with graffiti and stolen books, we didn’t want that to hinder the possibility of putting books in kids hands,” Dupree said.

Surprisingly, there are five other Little Free Libraries in the Victor Valley area, with one in the City of Adelanto, two in the City of Victorville, and this will be the second in the Town of Apple Valley. See the Little Free Library website for locations.

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