by Sarahmae Espinosa // Staff Writer
As the school begins to grow, many teachers and staff help make the school a better place. With Ms. Bollinger as the librarian and the Social Justice Book Club coordinator, the book club members were able to help create the mini libraries.
Ms. Bollinger, Carson High School librarian said, “I got the idea of the mini library from a book festival that I went to many years ago. I liked the idea that people can get a book for free. This idea started from a man named Todd Boll; his mother, who was a teacher and loved reading had passed away and in honor of her, he created the first mini library. Over the world, more than 60,000 mini libraries were formed and in Carson, there’s only one mini library that has been registered. With my husband who likes building, we had built the first mini library with my specifications. I like the mini library because it helps students come together, talk about the books, exchange their thoughts, look through different perspectives about what they read in the book. The mini library is for the Carson complex and the city of Carson. Our number for the mini library is 66732 on Google Maps. The mini libraries are located around school such as the main office, around AMA, AEE, attendance office, etc. Some teachers even have it in their classes like Dr. Coburn and Ms. Bird. So around the school, there are 15 mini libraries. I maintain them by simply asking my social justice book club members and also my library practice students to make sure its neat and clean. When the mini library starts to get empty, many staffs and teachers like Ms. Schaffer, Dr. Warren, Jan the security, etc., donate books.”
Eric Manos, CHS freshman stated, “A Little Free 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. Anyone may take a book or bring a book to share. Little Free Library book exchanges have a unique, personal touch. There is an understanding that real people are sharing their favorite books with their community; Little Libraries have been called ‘mini-town squares.’ You need to make sure books stay loaded in the box. It relates to CHS because we are family and we help people in need.”
Ritchie Castro, CHS junior said, “As president of the Social Justice Book Club, I strongly think the little libraries are a necessity of the school because it is convenient, as well as being beneficial for students who are in need of a book at such emergent purposes at class hours. It can surely be maintained by encouraging other students by donating books in a charitable way.”
Emely Diaz, CHS junior stated, “As an event coordinator, I think that little libraries are important to our school because it encourages kids to read and not have excuses on why they can’t read. I like it because I think that having a little library with free books will give all the students motivation to read without having to spend money.”
The little library is a great way for students to explore their genres of books. Books nowadays are pretty expensive, so why not have a mini free library for you to grab and take home, and if you don’t like it or are done using it, you can always bring it back.