Little Free Libraries to Pop Up Around Campus Soon

The University of Alabama could soon see miniature libraries popping up around campus. The first one was recently established in front of the SGA office in the Student Center. The tiny stands are known as Little Free Libraries and they will house everything from fiction to textbooks.

“The mission was to create an exchange of literature,” said Cassidy Matwiyoff, a freshman senator for the College of Arts and Sciences and First Year Council member. “The idea is to leave a book. Take a book.”

This new project of the FYC, made possible by the SGA Senate passing of an act presented by Matwiyoff, will eventually grow to three mini-libraries around campus – the Student Center, Reese Phifer and Honors College, but that could evolve.

“We’re starting off with this first one outside of the SGA office to see how it’s received,” Matwiyoff said. “Then we’ll purchase the other two we budgeted for.”

The FYC also recently held a book drive among its group to help fill this first LFL. Keeping the libraries replenished and fresh will be the FYC’s ongoing duty and they will hold a service day in the future where they’ll organize a campus-wide book drive.

Matwyioff added that the SGA would closely monitor how the libraries are utilized. “Anyone can leave any book, but the Academic Affairs cabinet will monitor the books to make sure there is nothing inappropriate.”

Visit their websites to learn more about the Little Free Library program or the SGA’s First Year Council.