Dedham Library Innovation Team Unveils 12th Little Free Library In East Dedham Neighborhood

DEDHAM, MA – Dedham Library Innovation Team (DLIT) recently unveiled its 12th little free library in Dedham’s East Dedham neighborhood at the intersection of Colburn, Whitehall, Meadow and Hyde Park Streets. Local resident Nick Garlick championed DLIT to select the recently refurbished Colburn Street Triangle Park in East Dedham for the next little free library installation. DLIT worked with Parks and Recreation's Board and Director Bob Stanley to plan, approve and install the mini lending library, which allows anyone to lend and take books for all ages.

An official unveiling and group photo are scheduled for this Saturday, September 23rd at 1pm. Town officials, neighbors and all supporters of literacy are invited to attend.

DLIT Founder Paul Reynolds notes, “We loved Nick’s enthusiasm for the project, and agreed that this park, where six roads intersect, would get high visibility. Visitors coming to see the little free library will also get to enjoy Dedham's recent storm water management project, which beautified the park with gorgeous perennials, iron benches, information boards, and is helping educate people about this serious issue to protect our drinking water.”

Garlick, who lives just a few houses down from the park with his wife and two little boys, explains his interest in the project “I wanted the little free library in my neighborhood because it actively implements strategies to promote reading and writing. I want my neighbors to get to know each other, which I think will happen through a shared interest in books, reading and learning.” Garlick is also thrilled with the little free library’s installation in Triangle Park. “The location is wonderful because last year the town put in a storm water management system along with two benches and a pathway. It’s a safe place for kids to go where we can ride bikes and scooters and play safely in the neighborhood.”

The location is also very fitting because Artist Sarah Edson, who painted the little library, is from East Dedham. Edson is a Dedham High School alum, and a recent graduate from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a major in Illustration. She has named her little library “Victorian Roses,” which is one of her favorite design motifs for her illustration work.

Installed all across Dedham, the twelve individually-decorated mini lending libraries were built by Dedham High School students and painted by both DHS students and community artists. Looking like large, decorated mailboxes with hinged doors, residents are encouraged to “give a book or take a book” from these little libraries. The Dedham Little Free Library project is an officially chartered member of the national Little Free Libraries initiative, which has spurred the creation and installation of well over 50,000 community-created little libraries in over 70 countries. DLIT’s very first little library, painted by students to look like a schoolhouse, was installed at Town Hall in 2014. Plans for two more little libraries are underway, which will finally complete the Dedham Little Free Library Project’s build and installation project.

To build the little libraries, DLIT partnered with Dedham High School, working directly with Director of Technology and Libraries Don Langenhorst, and DHS faculty teams, which included Engineering/Construction Teachers Steve Dewar (now retired) and Dave Haluska, as well as Fine Arts Director Jeff Bolduc and Art Teacher Maureen O’Sullivan.

To help defray the ongoing expenses of the project, The Dedham Little Library Project continues to seek financial support from those who are passionate about “building literacy across our community.” Tax-deductible donations can be made by contacting DLIT: DLIT.team@gmail.com or mailing a check made payable to “Dedham Library Innovation Team” to 164 Monroe Street, Dedham, MA 02026.

Explore Dedham Little Free Library Project’s Facebook page for more information or to join the project as volunteers, book donors, or sponsors: https://www.facebook.com/dedhamlittlefreelibrary

List of All 12 Installed Little Free Libraries in Dedham:

1) Dedham Town Hall, 26 Bryant Street – “Little Red Schoolhouse” built and painted by DHS students. Little Free Library Charter #10,741.

2) Dedham Square Keystone Lot, Corner of Eastern Ave. & High Street – “Head In The Clouds, Feet In The Trees” painted by Marietta Apollonio

3) Endicott MBTA Commuter Rail Stn, Corner of Grant & Elmwood Ave., “Poppies” painted by Susan Hoy

4) Veteran’s Road Housing Complex/East Dedham – “Library in the Leaves” painted by Rev. Rali Weaver

5) Maryanne Lewis Playground at Barnes Memorial Park on Eastern Avenue, “Pattern Recognition” painted by Lisa Houck

6) Oakdale Square, Church of the Good Shepherd, 62 Cedar Street, “Stars & Stripes” painted by Luke Barry

7) Dedham's Legacy Place @ Teavana, 950 Providence Highway, "Our Little Library" painted by NY Times best-selling Author/Illustrator Peter H. Reynolds

8) DHA Housing Complex @ Parker Staples Road, "A, B, Cs of Literacy" painted by Dedham High School, Class of 2016 alum Leah Badessa, Hannah Romanish, and Rachel Strykowski.

9) DHA Housing Complex @ High Street/O'Brien Way, "Dedham's Norfolk Tavern" painted by Dedham High School, Class of 2016 alum Leah Badessa, Hannah Romanish, and Rachel Strykowski.

10) Dedham Corporate MBTA Commuter Rail Station, Rustcraft Road Across Jefferson Place Apartments, “Celebrating Dedham Pottery” painted by Clarissa Robyn

11) Manor Neighborhood, the corner of Sherman and Louise Road at Terri’s Market, “Under The Stars” painted by Cindy Mootz

12) East Dedham Triangle Park, Intersection of Colburn & Hyde Park Streets, “Victorian Roses” painted by Sarah Edson.

ABOUT DEDHAM LIBRARY INNOVATION TEAM (DLIT):

A registered 501 c3 non-profit organization, The Dedham Library Innovation Team is an open and welcoming community group of those who understand the increasingly critical value of today’s modern library. To that end, the group is committed to creating collaborative, positive partnerships between the libraries, schools, public officials, businesses, and residents in order to support the strategic vision and development of a best-in-class, vibrant public library system in Dedham, MA. For more information, follow the group on Twitter at @DLIT_Dedham, check out the group’s Facebook page, or explore www.DLITDedham.com.

ABOUT LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES:

The Little Free Library Project was originally founded by Todd Bol. Bol designed the first “little library” built on a post as a tribute to his mother, who was a book lover and school teacher. As the concept spread, the goal was the creation of 2,150 Little Libraries, which would surpass the number of libraries founded by Andrew Carnegie. As of November 2016, there are over 50,000 registered Little Free Library book exchanges in all 50 U.S. states and over 70 countries around the world.

The mission of the Little Free Library movement is to:

· Promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide.

· Foster a sense of community and connection as we share skills, creativity and wisdom across generations.

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