Visit our Little Free Library at the Philbin Memorial Park (the Acre Playground – at the corner of Berlin St. and Chase St.)
From the ITEM on 8/4/17
CLINTON – Libraries don’t need to be big to make a huge impact on a community.
Little Free Libraries are a global phenomenon and are growing in popularity across the country. Now, the Bigelow Free Public Library and Clinton Parks and Recreation have brought one to Clinton.
After a public vote, the “Schoolhouse” design was chosen and installed in Edward J. Philbin Memorial Park, at the corner of Berlin and Wilson streets. The park is also known to some as Acre Park.
The grand opening ribbon-cutting and celebration was held in the afternoon sunshine on Friday, July 28, with children and adults enjoying a book-cover craft, free Italian ices, and of course lots of new books to read, as well as the facilities of the park such as the playground and splashpad.
Adults and children can borrow a book and return it, or take one home and keep it. You don’t even have to take one home — you can just read a book in the park. As Library Director Marie Mueller explained, it is “books for all. Books make the world a better place.”
The Clinton Little Free Library is part of a network of 50,000 Little Free Libraries all over the world; Clinton is literally on the map.
After the ribbon-cutting, children lined up to take a book. Some children had a little trouble opening the door to the doghouse-size free library. Library personnel explained to the children that it’s airtight to protect the books in inclement weather, so sometimes it just needs a good strong pull.
“I think it’s wonderful,” said library patron Betheney Zeigler. “The more books you can get into kids’ lives, the better.”