Franklin Square Civics debut Little Library

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The Franklin Square Civic Association held the ribbon cutting ceremony for the communities first Little Free Library at Garden City South Community Park on June 21. The Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that helps guide people from all over the world on how to set up a “take a book, share a book” cabinet in their communities.

The Little Free Library programs boats more than 80,000 libraries around the world, including ones in Elmont, West Hempstead and Malverne. But as she found a multitude of Little Free Libraries all over Nassau County, Franklin Square resident Maryanne Grey couldn’t help but notice that there where no such libraries in her community.

“I wanted to start one here to inspire people to visit the park and read something rather than spend time on their phones,” Grey said. “This can be something our community takes pride in.”

With Grey leading the helm, the Franklin Square Civic Association was able to put together the signature Little Free Library book cabinet, and with help from the Town of Hempstead, the library was installed near the center of the Garden City South Community Park, on Nassau Boulevard. The FSCA also received help from Girl Scout Troop 1754, who painted the cabinet, and local attorney Glenn Jersey, who donated money to build the library.

Hempstead Town Clerk Sylvia Cabana, who has held multiple reading sessions with students in the town, came out with Councilman Tom Muscarella to present Grey with the town’s official ribbon cutting scissors to debut the Little Free Library.

“This is about energizing our youth and fostering a love of reading for the rest of their lives,” Cabana said.

Anyone is able to take a book from the Little Free Library. Grey said that while the one in Garden City South Community Park is full from donations from the FSCA, she hopes it can inspire others to build Little Free Libraries all over Franklin Square. The FSCA’s Little Free Library will be added to the organization’s official map in the coming weeks.