PLAN TO ATTEND THE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY DEDICATION FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2024, AT 2:30 P.M.!

Belmont at Park Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia, has some really fun and exciting news—we’re getting our very own Little Free Library!

And it’s extra special to our community because it was hand-crafted by Octavio Camejo, one of our maintenance technicians, in his shop.

Dedication During National Reading Month

The timing for the 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 8, 2024, ribbon-cutting and dedication of our Little Free Library couldn’t be more perfect, because it’s happening during National Reading Month! An effort by the National Education Association (NEA), this is part of Read Across America, the nation’s largest ongoing celebration of reading. The program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources that are about everyone, for everyone.

Placing A Premium On Education

Part of the reason our residents choose to live at Belmont at Park Bridge is because they place a premium on education, and our upscale apartment community is very close to excellent schools, including Ocee Elementary School, an easy five-minute drive at just a little over a mile away.

Of course, reading is one of the very fundamentals of getting a good education. But did you know that there are also positive cognitive and emotional effects of reading on child development? According to the Child Mind Institute, studies have shown that it helps children develop language skills and amass “background knowledge,” build empathy, and learn how to manage challenging feelings.

Free Book Sharing

Belmont at Park Bridge decided to become the home of a Little Free Library because of its commitment to building a strong community, which is a goal it shares with the nonprofit. The global book-sharing movement got its start in 2009, and since then has expanded to include more than 175,000 libraries in 121 countries. It’s all about inspiring readers and expanding access to books!

Why Does Book Access Matter?

The United States is facing growing literacy crisis, with more than 30 million members of its adult population unable to read or write above a third-grade level. Studies have repeatedly shown that books in the hands of children have a meaningful impact on improving literacy. The more books in or near the home, the more likely a child will learn and love to read. But two out of three children living in poverty have no books to call their own.

Little Free Library book-sharing boxes play an essential role by providing 24/7 access to books (and encouraging a love of reading!), especially in areas where books are scarce.

How Does It Work?

A Little Free Library is a free book-sharing box where anyone may take a book or share a book. It functions on the honor system. You do not need to share a book in order to take one. If you take a book or two from one, try to bring some to share to that same library, or another in your area, when you can.

Registered little libraries have a primary caretaker, called a Little Free Library steward. The steward is usually the person who puts up the library. The steward takes care of basic maintenance like keeping the library clean and inviting, but it is up to everyone who uses the library to keep it stocked with good books.

Encourage Reading!

We can’t wait to see all the different kinds of books our community members will share through the Little Free Library! And we can’t wait to “get caught reading” by our kids! Children imitate what they see the adults around them do.  So, when they see us with a magazine, newspaper, or novel, it tells them that reading is the cool thing to do.

Some tips on encouraging reading:

• Keep books everywhere you spend time. Put them in the car, in every room of your apartment home, and tuck them in backpacks and purses. Make them easily accessible.
• Visit the library often (in addition to our new Little Free Library!). Knowing how to use the library and learning the benefits of a library fosters a love of reading as well as genuine respect for the services libraries provide.
• Read to your children. No matter their age, reading aloud strengthens their vocabulary and language skills. It also opens opportunities for discussion.
• Have your children read to you, too. You never know what you might learn!

Mark Your Calendars!

Again, the dedication of our special Little Free Library will be Friday, March 8, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. We picked the time to make sure that everybody’s kids would be home from school in time to attend, and it promises to be a fun family affair, complete with festive refreshments! So, mark your calendars and plan to join us then!

Sonya Sandoval, Community Manager and the Team at Belmont Park Bridge