Little Free Library Week is Here!

Andrea Miller, Dental Care Coordinator | Farrell Dental Center

Out of curiosity, I looked up the history of Little Free Library and saw that the first one was built in 2009 by Todd Bol in Hudson, Wisconsin, as a tribute to his late mother, a book lover and teacher. He built it to look like a one-room schoolhouse. I thought that was a cool story. I love books and have since I was a kid. I am old school and would rather hold a physical book in my hand to read than an e-book. I think the LFL is a wonderful idea. It makes it easy for people to have access to free books. And it may help inspire kids to read and love books.

Melia White, PHN Community Health Worker

I will say that, through going out front to fill the library, many of the staff have come out as I fill it out and have come to me after they see me tending to the library to ask questions about it and how they can donate. I direct them to the Foundation, and it is cool to see staff ask questions because it is right out front.

Marcus Biswa, PHN Community Ambassador | Wayne Primary Care

Although it is called a “Little Free Library”, its impact is meaningful. It may not reach everyone, 
but it is highly valuable to those who already have, or are developing, the habit of reading. Readers truly enjoy it. Every journey begins with a single step, and while our library is small, its location makes it visible and accessible to those who appreciate books.

Making a library available within the health center is especially important for patients who live far from local libraries. This saves them time and mileage.  Encouraging reading is one effective way to reduce stress and support cognitive development, and this small resource contributes positively to overall well-being.

Jennifer Miller, LPC | Wayne Primary Care

Donovan Thomas Desrochers built the little lending library for his Eagle Scout Project in 2017. Donovan went into the Army right after high school graduation as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist. Donovan served in Korea and Texas and was honorably discharged. Donovan died by suicide in August of 2021. It is a pleasure to see his lending library being used at PHN, and it brings me joy to see it every day as I enter the Wayne Offices. Thank you for featuring Donovan’s work. I am proud to be his mother and for all that he accomplished in his short life.

Anonymous

I personally believe that Little Free Libraries are a treasure! I never know if I’ll find a thriller (my favorite choice), mystery, or perhaps a classic. It’s refreshing to know that, unlike a library, I don’t have to worry about library cards, due dates, or late fees.

When I attend my Women’s group meetings on Tuesdays, I always stop by my local Little Free Library; sometimes I have a book or two to drop off. I love putting little notes in the back of the books with sayings such as:

“Hope this brings you as much joy as it brought me.”
“Passed on from a lifelong book lover.”
“This book is a journey worth taking. Enjoy!”

The last thing that gives me joy is the “Pay It Forward” feeling. I feel satisfied dropping off books I have finished, knowing they are going directly to someone else in the community.

Melody Cerbus, PHN Charitable Foundation Library Liaison

One of the reasons I care so deeply about supporting Little Free Libraries is because of the experience I had reading to my daughters every night when they were growing up. Those quiet moments with a book created a connection between us that was warm, comforting, and meaningful, in a way that’s hard to describe unless you’ve felt it yourself. A story shared together becomes more than just words on a page. They become a memory, a feeling of closeness, and a love of reading that can last a lifetime. Through Little Free Libraries and PHN Charitable Foundation’s Book Pop-Ups, I hope to help create those same moments for other families and children, giving them access to books and the chance to discover the joy and connection that reading can bring.

Amy Rutherford, HR Manager | Miller Industries

At Miller Industries, giving back to our community is something we truly value, which is why we created the “Drive Change Initiative”—to support local organizations and causes that make a real difference. Each quarter, we focus our efforts on one community organization that could use assistance. For the first quarter of 2026, we were proud to partner with Primary Health Network’s Little Free Library program.

Through a company-wide book drive, our employees came together and donated over 1,100 books, helping expand access to reading materials for children, families, and individuals throughout our community. Seeing the generosity and enthusiasm from our team was incredibly rewarding, and it reinforced just how powerful small acts of kindness can be when we work together.

We are grateful to Primary Health Network for the work they do through the Little Free Library program and for allowing us the opportunity to support their mission. We are honored to be part of an initiative that promotes literacy, connection, and community growth.

Ann Edwards, Practice Manager | Titusville Community Health Center

A little story of when I was changing out the books, the little children who go to daycare there asked me if I was putting in new books to read. I said yes, I am, and they got excited and said they will ask their parents if they can take one to read at home. It made my heart happy!