Plainfield Park District Installs Little Free Library

PLAINFIELD, IL — Kris Bruno and Jessica Whitney dispel the notion that teachers don’t work during their summer break.

In addition to working toward their master’s degrees at Lewis University this summer, the duo, who teaches in the Plainfield School District, recently completed construction on a new Free Little Library that was installed at Caton Ridge West Park, 1704 Great Ridge Drive, in the Plainfield Park District.

The installation helped fulfill a requirement for a service learning project for Bruno’s graduate work.

The concept behind the Little Free Library is to fill it with books then let people take a book that interests them and even donate books that they think others will enjoy.

Bruno said that the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. The day after it was installed by Plainfield Park District staff, and before they could even stock it with books themselves, parents and kids from the surrounding neighborhood had already filled it and were reading in the park.

“We were glad to see that the community was so excited about it,” said Bruno, who completed her Masters of Elementary Education in July. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

She said that the project will have a lasting impact on the Plainfield Park near her school building and looks to be a point of pride that neighbors have already embraced.

“I love reading and was glad to see so many people in the community do too,” said Bruno.

Whitney said that working on a Little Free Library was a “bucket list” item for her, and was eager to volunteer to help on the project, handling most of the construction duties, with Bruno focusing on the logistics, outreach to The Park District, and gathering of construction materials. They collaborated on the paint and decorating which includes phrases in both English and Spanish that convey the theme that reading empowers kids to be leaders.

“Reading is for everyone,” said Bruno, “I just love that kids can go to Caton Ridge West Park and find a book to read!”

Whitney adds that she hopes that the project will be the “first of many Little Free Libraries in the Plainfield Park District.”

Executive Director Carlo Capalbo said that the new Little Free Library at Caton Ridge West was a great opportunity to further their mission of forging partnerships that improve the communities served by the Plainfield Park District.

Photos/article via Plainfield Park District