Scout Working on “Little Libraries” Project

Life Scout Davis Howell has turned his love for reading into a project to benefit young readers at Audubon Kids Zone, the John F. Kennedy Community Center, South Heights Elementary School and visitors to Atkinson Park.

As his Eagle Scout project, Howell has created four “Little Libraries.”

A Little Library is a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange. They come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common version is a small wooden box of books.

“I decided on the Little Libraries project when one of my mother’s friends saw a story about one in another city,” Howell explained. “Then I heard from some people working at the library that people sometimes have trouble getting to the library, so I thought a public resource for reading would be a good fit for the community.”

With that idea forming, he went to work on his research.

“On the Little Free Library website, there is a suggestion on how you can build one, which I used for inspiration,” said Howell, who is a member of Troop 301. “I used this basic design but made some changes on the door to the library and a couple of other minor changes.”

He said he put them together over the course of several work days involving other members of his Boy Scout troop.