As technology keeps improving and young people expect everything to be handed to them, some might think that traditional libraries will fade away. However, that’s not the case at all. A Pew Research study shows that about 53% of Americans between 18 and 35 visited a library at least once last year.
While there are many grand libraries around the world filled with millions of books and lots of visitors, this particular library stands out because it has a lot of character.
It was created by transforming an old tree with massive roots that had to be cut down. This decaying tree is located outside Sharalee Armitage Howard’s home. She knew that keeping the tree was risky, but she didn’t want to let it go. The tree had been a beloved part of the neighborhood for 110 years, and to everyone’s surprise, Howard discovered a wonderful way to preserve it.
With the amazing artistic talent of an artist from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the tree was transformed into the coziest and most charming little library. Now, everyone can enjoy reading a good book inside this giant tree that has become a symbol of the community.
“We had to remove a huge tree that was over 110 years old, so I decided to turn it into a little free library (which I’ve always wanted),”
Sharalee wrote on her Facebook page.
“Here it is (minus some cleanup, vegetation, and trim work)!”
The transformed tree is now known as the “Little Free (Tree) Library,” and it has a collection of popular books. Not only can people borrow books, but they can also share the ones they already have.
The library looks really appealing, featuring a glass door and a walkway made of large stones. The bookshelves are lit up, allowing visitors to peek inside without needing to open the door.
“A fun detail that didn’t show up in my first picture, is that the dental moulding above the door, is actually little, titled, wooden books,” she writes.
The books have the names of well-known titles carved into them.
This amazing creation caught the eye of lots of people, and a few local news stations shared the story about it.
What Sharalee accomplished is truly remarkable. She has joined the Little Free Library group, which places tiny libraries in various places across the nation.
Do you think your neighborhood might think about creating one? It’s not just a great addition, but also a way to encourage kids to read more.