Medina unveils 4th ‘We Read’ book kiosk, which is headed to State Street Park
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Members of Medina Lions, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library and Medina High School’s English Department gathered around a new little library for the We Read Program, which Lion Chris Keller built and the Lions donated Friday morning. From left are Julie and Chris Keller, library director Catherine Cooper, Lion Jim Hancock, and teachers Todd Bensley, Elizabeth Dickhut, Karen Jones and Nicole Goyette. This will be the fourth little book kiosk in the village, as part of the We Read Program.
MEDINA – A program launched in the fall of 2018 to promote reading in the community got some support from Medina Lions with a unique donation this morning.
When the Lions heard Medina’s We Read Program was in need of another little library, Lion Chris Keller volunteered to build one.
The We Read Program, with a goal is to promote reading in the community, was an idea of Medina High School’s English Department, led by Elizabeth Dickhut. With support from Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, We Read was launched in the fall of 2018.
Chris Keller, rear, watches as Catherine Cooper, director of Lee Whedon Memorial Library, and Jim Hancock, a member of Medina Lions Club, unveil a reading library Keller made on behalf of the Lions for the We Read Program.
The newest little library is a bit different from the other three, which are placed in strategic locations around Medina, such as Pine Street Park, Rotary Park and the Canal Village Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings.
Keller, who teaches at Albion Central School and is a talented woodcrafter, built this library with a cedar roof and then his wife Julie suggested he paint it in the Lions’ colors of yellow and blue. This library will be filled with books and placed in State Street Park.
The idea of We Read is to place books throughout the town where adults and children can take a book and keep it or return it or leave another book.
Goyette said she has noticed increased activity in the library at Pine Street Park, where the children’s books have been very popular.
“More adults are also starting to use the little library, and that’s great,” she said.
Dickhut said she loved that more people, such as the Lions Club, were getting involved.
“That was the whole idea of We Read – to promote reading to the community,” Dickhut said.
Hancock said people are also using the library in Rotary Park as a drop-off for people wanting to leave non-perishable food items.
Anyone is welcome and encouraged to leave books on any subject in the We Read libraries, or take a book to read.
Hancock said the Lions hope their donation of the little library will be a lasting tribute to the We Read Program.
