WARREN — The Warren City School District has expanded its “Little Neighborhood Libraries” program to include a new book-sharing box on Central Parkway SE.

The new box was installed recently at the site of Warren’s former Devon School. It is among several book-sharing boxes the school district has placed throughout the city on previous elementary school sites. Each box has been filled with new and gently used books to encourage and ignite a citywide love of reading, explained Karin Kilpatrick, a Warren City Schools Title I family outreach coordinator.

The district’s “Little Neighborhood Libraries” project was inspired, in part, by the national “Little Free Library” initiative.

“During this uncertain time, it is even more important for families to actively participate in reading experiences with their children,” Kilpatrick said.

“The circumstances of the pandemic may have limited our exposure to school and / or libraries, but we are determined to offer our families opportunities to share books and literacy activities in order to support our students’ reading achievements. Good reading is the key to a successful future for all of us.”

Bob Lewis, a city school district carpenter, repaired several old boxes formerly used by the Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership, which, in collaboration with Kilpatrick, established a Little Library program in the city several years ago. The district has now taken over ownership / maintenance of the Little Libraries that are on school properties and added others. Kilpatrick works with Kevin Stringer, a WCSD Title I parent / family engagement coordinator, to maintain the boxes.

Lewis crafted new boxes, including the one on Central Parkway SE, to accommodate additional books so the program could be expanded to serve more families.

“We just wanted to make sure all of the boxes were updated or repaired and in the best condition they could be for the community, so residents would have access to more books.” Lewis said. “It’s an important program that students, families and the community can use and put to good use.”

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Borrow a book

Locations:

DEVON SCHOOL SITE: 833 Central Parkway SE

DICKEY AVENUE SCHOOL SITE: Dickey Avenue near Ward Street

EMERSON SCHOOL SITE: Corner of Drexel Avenue NW and Moncrest Drive NW

GARFIELD SCHOOL SITE: Woodland Street NW near Perkinswood Blvd. NE

HORACE MANN SCHOOL SITE: York Ave near Jackson Street

LAIRD AVENUE SCHOOL SITE: Bonnie Brae near Grandview Street

ROOSEVELT SCHOOL SITE: Roosevelt Ave near the Community Garden Sign

McKINLEY SCHOOL SITE: Hollywood NE between Mazda and Elm Road

SECREST SCHOOL SITE: Bennett Street near Northwest Blvd.

How the program works:

Take a walk, or a ride, to your Little Neighborhood Library.

Browse through the books and other materials.

Find something you like? Take it home with you.

Finished? Return the books and materials … please be neat and keep boxes tidy.

Help keep the library and materials in good order:

You may donate quality, gently used books to your Little Neighborhood Library to keep a lively collection and offer a variety of choices to readers.

Donated books should be clean, in good repair and cover appropriate topics and language for a community library collection.