Farmers Weekly Review

To offer community members free books at any time, members of the Kiwanis Club of Joliet gathered today to dedicate a Little Free Library (LFL), located in front of United Cerebral Palsy-Center for Disability Services’ Megan M. Riley Center, 311 S. Reed St., Joliet.
“The mission of the Little Free Library program is to build community, inspire readers, and provide access to free books,” said Bev Cavanaugh, manager of the Joliet Kiwanis’ LFL program in a press release. “We want to provide a book for every reader.”
Little Free Library is a non-profit organization that sponsors 150,000 libraries in more than 100 countries. The organization works with local entities, such as the Joliet Kiwanis, to maintain these free libraries.
“It is important to provide resources to our community and we are happy to partner with the Kiwanis on this project,” said Mike Hennessy, executive director of UCP-CDS.
According to Cavanaugh, the Joliet Kiwanis sponsor two LFL, the other is located in Rockdale. The library is restocked several times per month and is available to anyone, anytime.
“People can take a book, keep it, or return it for a new book,” she said. “We always accept book donations too. Some books have a personal message written in them. Someone has touched and enjoyed each book in our libraries.”
The LFL structures were built by members of the Aktion Angels, is service club sponsored by Joliet Kiwanis club for adults with disabilities. According to Terry Kunze, advisor of the club, members learn to become competent, capable, caring leaders through community projects. Aktion Angels clubs have more than 12,000 members sponsored by Kiwanis Clubs around the world.
“We try to make our community better by working together on projects that benefit other people,” said Kunze. “With more than 22 members, we have a lot of manpower and look for opportunities to partner with other groups.”
For more information about the Aktion Angels, contact Kunze at [email protected]. For information about the Little Free Library program sponsored by the Joliet Kiwanis, email [email protected].