Thanks to an Eagle Scout candidate, several volunteers and three organizations, four “Little Free Libraries” have been placed in locations outside of Marshall for anyone to use. These pint-sized libraries are mounted on a post and look a bit like large bird houses. They contain a variety of books for different interests and ages that anyone can borrow. There is no need to “check out” books from the little libraries because they are all donated books or materials that have been deleted from Marshall Public Library’s collection. The hope is that a person might find an interesting book, take it home to read it, and then return it for someone else to enjoy. A person might also put a book in that they are finished reading and no longer want to keep.
The Little Free Libraries are located at Mill Creek Park, at Lincoln Trail Park, in Clark Center not far from Yargus Manufacturing, and in Dennison.
The first Little Free Libraries was constructed by volunteer Ray Cown of Marshall.
Trevor Kellum, son of Vaughn and Terri Kellum of Dennison, organized and carried out the construction of the remaining three libraries and the placement and finishing of all four as his Eagle Scout project. Trevor’s fellow Troop 276 scouts and their parents assisted. Thanks to Bob and Barb Hedges, Jared Green, Tom Hintz, Jim Jaeger, Dan Garner,Marshall Area Public Library District, Friends of Marshall Public Library, Kirchner Building Center, Hopkins Construction, and Karen Cown for their assistance with various parts of the project as well.
-----------------------------
A fifth Little Free Library was added at Robert Washburn Park, near the Marshall Community Pool.