The San Bernardino County Probation Department has partnered with The Literacy Club to install Little Free Libraries at two probation buildings in support of the Countywide Vision’s literacy campaign, Vision2Read.
The mobile libraries were unveiled April 24 at the Adult Central Day Reporting Center and the Youth Justice Center, both in San Bernardino. Built to look like dog houses, the libraries are designed to honor San Bernardino County Probation Department K9s, Chester and Cody.
Deputy Chief Probation Officer Tracy Reece attended the unveiling and explained that the Vision2Read campaign, launched in 2015 in San Bernardino County, coincided with Probation’s development of the Little Free Libraries Project. In line with the Countywide Vision, this program focuses attention on the importance of reading, and connects people to available literacy resources and volunteer opportunities in San Bernardino County.
Deputy Chief Probation Officer, Tracy Reece, read to a group of children at the Youth Justice Center afterwards she stated, “The gift of reading never ends, and it is our hope that this provides an added resource for our probationers and their children.”
The Literacy Club, a non-profit organization, built the structures and supplied hundreds of new books for the probation libraries. Youth participating in probation’s Gateway and Building Skills programs will eventually learn how to construct 12 additional libraries to be put in probation buildings throughout San Bernardino County.
“The libraries are a great opportunity for children visiting with their parents to enjoy a book while they wait,” said Jean Chadwick, Executive Director of The Literacy Club. Readers are encouraged to take books home from the selection, which ranges from preschool to high school interests.
The Literacy Club has built over 60 Little Free Libraries in just over three years and given away more than 35,000 brand new books to kids who need them the most. Libraries have been placed in police station lobbies, parks, and community centers throughout Southern California, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Every library is customized for each location, including the theme, color and project name.
More information about The Literacy Club and their libraries can be found at http://theliteracyclub.org.