A little free library was installed on the Mayo River Rail Trail on June 7 as a way to enhance, and hopefully expand, the trail.
Rebecca Adcock, executive director of the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce, said she was inspired to install the little library after visiting Alabama with other county representatives for the Gateway Community Initiative.
“I had just run into Nelson McConnell (former teacher and track coach), and he reminded me that he still had one that he had built, and it was sitting in his basement, and he was looking for a place to put it,” she said.
Adcock said she thought the Mayo River Rail Trail would be a perfect location for it.
“We talked with the county, and the county Parks and Recreation helped to dig the hole and helped us install it,” she said.
The “take a book, leave a book” small library is located next to the kiosk near the gravel parking area, off Commerce Street.
Adcock said the location was chosen because she and others didn’t want to put it out in the middle of a field that could cause an obstacle issue for county maintenance mowing the fields.
“We also put it there because a lot of people park there, so they would be seeing it getting in and out of their vehicles. I believe it was the Homestead Hikers who had money in their funds, and they installed a really nice bench right down by the river in that area. So, we thought it would be nice if you could grab a book and go sit on the bench and read a little bit,” she said.
Adcock said all the books in the little library are donated. She also stocked it with a lot of children’s books.
“Since we did the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, we stocked it with a lot of children’s books because we know that area gets a lot of use by families with young children,” she said.
Adcock said she hopes the community will enjoy the free little library and will help by keeping it stocked with books that have been read and can be enjoyed by others, “and encourage literacy in the county.
“The county offers the Imagination Library for children ages 0-5, and as long as they register, the kid can receive a free book each month from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library,” she said.
Those interested in this program can register on the chamber website at www.patrickchamber.com.
