Marion’s Mark, in partnership with the Park Ridge Library, is installing six Little Free Libraries in front of homes in residential neighborhoods throughout Park Ridge this month. The homes were selected in 2019 through an application process promoted at the Park Ridge Library, and applications are still being accepted for future sites. Marion’s Mark is a local family fund established in memory Marion Sitkiewicz, a longtime supporter of the Park Ridge Library. Pictured here is the Casey Family and their Little Free Library outside their home on Clifton Avenue.

The Little Free Libraries are currently stocked with books that were donated to the Friends of the Park Ridge Library, items weeded from the Library’s collection, as well as contributions of used books from the homeowner.  Anyone passing by the Little Free Libraries is encourage to continue the “take one, leave one” approach of all Little Free Libraries, donating a favorite book of their own to replace the one they’ve borrowed.

“These Little Free Libraries are a fun way for community members to share their favorite titles, and their love of reading, with one another,” said Library Director Joanna Bertucci. “We are grateful to the Sitkiewicz Family for initiating this project and seeing it through to fruition, and for their ongoing support of the Library. We are thrilled at the level of interest the community has shown in the Little Free Library program, and we hope they will inspire even more readers in Park Ridge in the years to come.”

For details and the Park Ridge Little Free Libraries’ location information, visit parkridgelibrary.org/about/lfl/.

About Little Free Libraries

Little Free Library is a book exchange program whereby members of a community place a “library,” like the one pictured here, in their front yard, inviting neighbors to stop by and take a book of their choosing. This library was on display in the Library lobby during the summer of 2019.

Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world. There are more than 80,000 registered Little Free Libraries in all 50 states and over 90 countries. Through these Libraries, millions of books are exchanged each year, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds. Little Free Library has received recognition from the Library of Congress, the National Book Foundation, Library Journal, the Women’s National Book Association, and more.

For more information on the Little Free Library program, visit https://littlefreelibrary.org/.