The GRAND OPENING OF THE LIBRARY!!!

Yes, it was finally time to have our grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony.  We posted on Facebook and also took flyers around to our neighborhood.

The flyer:  (Minus the cute Little Free Library logo which I can't get to paste here)

We are pleased to announce the grand opening of the

Walnut Grove Neighborhood

Little Free Library

TOMORROW, Saturday, April 15

4:30-5:30

Ribbon cutting Ceremony at 4:45

869 West 2800 South, Syracuse, UT

Stewards:  Gary and Judy Hall

Please come and check it out with your family

and enjoy some cookies, too!

Little Free Libraries are an international program to promote literacy and community.  The concept is that you can take a book to read, keep it, share it with someone else, or return it to the Little Free Library when you get another book.  To start with we will stock the library with books we have, but you are welcome to add books to the shelves when there is space or leave a box of books on our porch for later use.  There will be books for all ages of readers.  The idea is a free exchange of loved books and the love of books within our neighborhood and community.  Join our Facebook page (Walnut Grove Little Free Library) and post reviews of books you have read and also hear about other book events we will have “at the library”. Please feel free to share this flyer or our Facebook page with friends and family who might be interested.  And because we are who we are, we will also have games which can be borrowed for games nights and returned when you are done.  We have some old classics you might enjoy.

Hope to see you there for our opening and many times after that!

“Be awesome.  Be a book nut.”  Dr. Seuss

After a short nap, we began to load up some books into the library and to get everything else ready for our event.

Kaitlyn and Dillon Dangel were our first official customers to check out books.  They got there before our party as they had a conflict at 4:30.  They were happy to pose as our first "book takers".

 A close-up of the shelves-

door closed--upper shelves

door opened--lower shelves

As you can see, our library also includes puzzles and games which were big items on the first day.

We had about 40 people come to our ribbon cutting ceremony--of course I was talking so we didn't get pictures although our friends posted some for us. It was fun because some of our more queiter neighbors came and brought books to donate.

One of our Primary kids with her dad

So many people brought books to donate that we pulled out another table to display those books as well.  People have continued to bring books all week which is great, although I need to get some good totes to store them in.

After Jena cut the ribbon, the library was swarmed by kids.  It was fun to listen to them talk about the books they saw, the ones they have read and why they wanted to take the ones they did.  Games and puzzles were also taken. Gary's cousin, Anita, came from North Ogden which was so sweet.  Our nephew Eric also came.  He lives in Logan but was down for the Easter weekend.  He traveled the farthest to attend.

Thanks to Rebecca Jensen who took this picture during the party

Jena is picking up the ribbon that she cut!!

Another one of our Primary class
posing on our big rock

His older brother posing with his choice of a book

And here it is after the party--we had to stock it up to keep it looking full.

We are #444519.  If you check the world map for Little Free Library you will be able to see us (in about 3-5 days from now).  I just formally registered last night.

Gary's mom named this housing project "Walnut Grove" after the
LIttle House on the Prairie books that she loved so much.
We wanted to honor that name by naming our library after that.
Little House on the Prairie stories are a tribute
 both to reading and to community.
And who wouldn't want to quote Dr. Seuss!!

"BE AWESOME!  BE A BOOK NUT!"

It has been fun this week to watch people stop and grab a book.  Gary said he came up late on Tuesday and saw someone at the library with an umbrella (because it was pouring rain) and a flashlight.  It was a friend from several blocks south of us who was looking for a book for their daughter to read.  Gary was able to have a short conversation with them. 

I got this fun package in the mail from Andrea Slack, a friend from Richland and one of my roommates at BYU:

These books definitely traveled the furthest to get here.  Thanks, Andrea, some of them are already in the library ready to go.

I have seen several books I hope are still there that I can take on my long airplane ride next month to visit Tosha and family.

The library is about literacy and community.  It is off to a great start!!

Makes you want to go read a book, doesn't it???

Come by anytime.