On Tuesday, July 21, Beta Club Sponsor Susanne Griffin and 2014-15 Beta Club officers Sunnie Mays, Faith Siplin and Kaitlyn Farnell excitedly filled Madison County's first-ever Little Free Libraries with books so the public can begin to make full use of the cleverly crafted structures. The MCHS Beta Club installed the first-ever Little Free Library in Madison County beside City Hall in Greenville, 154 SW Old Mission Ave., and the second across the street from City Hall in Madison, 321 SW Rutledge Street, at the corner of Horry and Rutledge. “Little Free Library” is a worldwide movement that promotes literacy and the love of reading through its “take a book, return a book” philosophy. There are over 25,000 Little Free Libraries in all 50 states and 70 countries. “Some have no library card or work until 5 p.m. and cannot make it to the library,” said Beta Club Sponsor, Susanne Griffin. “We want to reach everybody, of all levels, ages and groups.” In addition to the Madison and Greenville locations, there will be two more installed in Lee and Pinetta. Beta Club members will make sure the structures are maintained and well-stocked.
The LFL movement began in 2009 when Todd Bol, of Hudson, Wis., built a model of a one room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former school teacher who loved reading. He filled it with books and put it on a post in his front yard. His neighbors and friends loved it. He built several more and gave them away. Each one had a sign that said “free books.” Several years later, Little Free Library became a national and, eventually, international movement. “The establishment of the Little Free Libraries across Madison County is testimony to the desire of MCHS Beta Club students to make a positive contribution to their communities,” said Superintendent Doug Brown. “The added benefit of providing community members with free and readily accessible reading material can result in increased literacy rates and a desire to access the wonderful and bigger Madison County Public Library.” The Beta Club encourages you to come take a book and enjoy new literature! They also accept donations of gently-used books of all genres and reading levels for young children as well as adults. In addition to books, the Beta Club accepts monetary donations, as the “libraries,” and their charters are expensive. If you wish to build a Little Free Library yourself, purchase a library or learn about the amazing organization, visit littlefreelibrary.org.
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1. Greene Publishing, Inc. Photo By Savannah Reams, July 21, 2015. On Tuesday, July 21, representatives from the Madison County High School Beta Club stocked the first Little Free Library in the City of Madison, located across the street from City Hall. Pictured, from left to right, are: Dianne Phillips, book donor; Susanne Griffin, Beta Club Sponsor/MCHS Media Specialist; Sunnie Mays, Beta Club secretary; Faith Siplin, Beta Club treasurer; Kaitlyn Farnell, Beta Club parliamentarian; and Superintendent Doug Brown.
2.Greene Publishing, Inc. Photo By Savannah Reams, July 21, 2015. On Tuesday, July 21, representatives for the Madison County High School Beta Club stocked the very first Little Free Library in Madison County, located in front of City Hall in Greenville. Pictured, from left to right, are: Tim Day, Greenville Town Manager, Beta Club treasurer Faith Siplin and Beta Club sponsor, Susanne Griffin.