Helping to make reading accessible for everyone
Map of Eagle rock
Why is literacy important
Literacy is important for everyone. According to weforum.org only 87% of the world is literate! That may seem like a big number, but that still leaves 13% of the world illiterate. Literacy is important for many reasons but, I think one of the most important reasons is how it effects economic development. According to projectliteracy.ca, literacy can directly effect how a person is able to survive in our fast developing economy. They say that “Effective literacy skills open the doors to more educational and employment opportunities so that people are able to pull themselves out of poverty and chronic underemployment.” Being able to read and write directly effects the ability of employment which in the long run effects a persons life. So, reading and Literacy is important in everyone’s life!
About this project and why it is important to me:
Why I made this website:
I made this website for a few different reasons. First of all, I have always loved reading. Since I was young, reading has been a passion and a hobby of mine. I want to help make it easier for others to be able to have to same amazing experience I have had with reading. Having easy accessible reading for the community is really important, and I wanted to help out by creating a space, where in a click you can find the little library closest to you in Eagle Rock. Second, I am an owner of a Little library. I love to see peoples fascination and excitement when they find our library. It warms my heart to see people stop to find a book that they can now take come and love.
About this project:
Hi, my name is Mia Schrier and I am a Sophomore student at Eagle Rock High school. During our sophomore year we are required to do a Personal project that will help our community. After lots of thought I decided on this project! To make this all happen, I started out by printing out a map of Eagle Rock and sectioning it into 7 sections. With the help of my family I drove around Eagle Rock following this map and looking out the window for libraries. As this project went on I really enjoyed being able to see the how much of Eagle Rock felt the same way as me, and too wanted to help give access to all readers. I hope this website is helpful to you, and you are able to sit down and enjoy reading a nice book from a little library close to you!
Free Little Libraries
Before you start looking at the libraries it is important to note that I sent out questionnaires to each house with a Little Library. If they responded, I included their response below their Address Link! There was absolutely no pressure to respond, I just wanted to see some of their intel on Free Little Libraries.
Address: 4513 Alumni Ave
Why did you decide to put in the Little Library?
When my son was a baby, I often took him on stroller walks around our neighborhood, and we always included a stop to a little library a few blocks away. It rarely had children’s books, but my son was always so happy when we found one, so I thought it would be fun to install a children’s little free library.
What made you love reading?
I loved reading from a young age, probably from being exposed to books. I have memories of going to bookstores, libraries, and book fairs at school. I think I would have loved a neighborhood little free library.
What impact do you hope (or has) Little Library made on the community?
I hope to bring kids joy, both from finding books and giving away books that they have outgrown.
Adress: 1967 Noldon St
Why did you decide to put in the Little Library?
To share used books with other readers
What made you love reading?
The things you can learn
What impact do you hope (or has) Little Library made on the community?
Maybe somebody finds a book that they didn't know of and now love
Adress: 1612 Silver Oak Terrace
Why did you decide to put in the Little Library?
While i love reading and the joy of sharing good books with others, my main motivation in putting up our Little Library was to encourage the activity of giving stuff away for free to others. I have discovered the coolest books simply by stopping at other peoples’ free libraries! books are educational…even if they are fiction…and i believe that knowledge should be free. It shouldn’t have a price. Also sharing books keeps them out of landfills.
What made you love reading?
I’ve always loved reading. For most of my childhood, and even now, I loved stories about going back in time. I also feel that the many young adult novels I read as a kid that were about female characters provided me with strength and comfort as I grew up. In fact, I loved reading so much that I decided in Kindergarten that I would be a writer when i grew up. And I nearly achieved that, except instead of writing books, I write news articles.
What impact do you hope (or has) Little Library made on the community?
I hope it encourages others to give things away for free. You never know what people may want so you might as well put it out for free first instead of just putting it straight in the garbage can. It is also incredibly fun to go on a walk and come home with a new book.
Address: 1597 Yosemite Drive
Why did you decide to put in the Little Library?
ROCK stand for Reach Our Community Kids. We are a non-profit community center with after school programming, recovery groups, and fitness classes, and we also host the Eagle Rock Community Fridge out front. Proceeds from ROCK Coffee House inside our building help support our non-profit mission. Having the Little Free Library outside perfectly aligns with our vision for this little intersection as a community hub in Eagle Rock.
What made you love reading?
Personally grew up as a missionary kid in Nigeria. We had no running water or electricity in the little village where we lived and served for nearly 7 years. Reading was all we had to do to pass the time, and my parents made sure we had tons of books around…all the classics, novels, non-fiction…you name it. We read everything we could get our hands on growing up. Now I serve as President & CEO of the ROCK and my all these years later my love of reading has not diminished.
What impact do you hope (or has) Little Library made on the community?
A graduate student from USC offered to get the Little Free Library set up as a project for one of her classes in Nonprofit Advocacy. The Little Free Library is a great resource that complements the community fridge on that side of our building and ties in nicely with the literacy work we do through tutoring and homework coaching in the after school program.
Address: 4713 Townsend Ave
Why did you decide to put in the Little Library?
To better my community. It not only is a great way to discover new books, but it’s a way to meet neighbors and connect.
What made you love reading?
I love being lost in a story. The way it transports you to a place and time.
What impact do you hope (or has) Little Library made on the community?
Access to books, building a love of reading, brining joy to individuals when they discover an exciting read, building community.
Adress: 1702 Nolden Street
Why did you decide to put in the Little Library?
-I love buying books (more than I can manage to read them) and want people to enjoy reading.
What made you love reading?
-Always have since a child. It’s like entering another world.
What impact do you hope (or has) Little Library made on the community?
Just to share my love of reading.
Adress:4940 College View
Why did you decide to put in the Little Library?
-We love them! We also wanted to share great books with our neighbors
What made you love reading?
-I've just always been a reader! Beautiful writing inspires me, and I love being transported into another time and place.
What impact do you hope (or has) Little Library made on the community?
-I hope it makes our community more welcoming, inclusive. Open to all!
Address: 1947 Addison Way
Why did you decide to put in the Little Library?
-we love reading, and wanted to create this as a way to share that love with the neighborhood.
What made you love reading?
-reading is very fun and a great way to pass the time.
What impact do you hope (or has) Little Library made on the community?
-I hope that people have been able to or will find good books in our library.
Address: 4952 Vincent Ave
Why did you decide to put in the Little Library?
I was a teacher, as was my mom, dad, as well as one of my brothers. Every time one of us changed grade levels or subjects I ended up with more books in my garage. Books shouldn’t be stuck in a closet or box and forgotten.
What made you love reading?
When I was about 3 or 4 my Dr told my mom I would never be able to read. Mom listened to him and said I would learn to read as well as my siblings did. Mom read to me all the time. We read for fun and whatever I needed to read to get my homework done. I know I would never have learned to read well without all her help. When she first told me about the LFL movement I knew I wanted to have a LFL in my front yard some day.
What impact do you hope (or has) Little Library made on the community?
People all over the world are learning to read and enjoying reading in their own language.I believe when one child starts to read they share reading to other people around them.Children often become interested in reading and speaking in other languages. I believe if people can read and write in other languages they can avoid many misunderstandings. Isn’t that a wonderful thing to be a part of?
Adress: 5286 Townsend Ave
Why did you decide to put in the Little Library?
I want to provide easy access to books, with seating space, as well. I want to attract passers-by to books on paper and the possibility of private time.
What made you love reading?
My mom read to me from as early as I can remember
What impact do you hope (or has) Little Library made on the community?
I hope that more people have read and/or been read too. With access to a "random" selection, I hope they have found some surprises and learned new things! I hope they have peaceful moments just sitting at the LFL.
It is important to remember that free little library are not the only way to access books for free. You can also go visit the La public library!
If I missed your free little library or you just put a new one in…
Email me at miaschrier@gmail.com to add it in!