Monday, April 7, 2014

Two Ways to Spread the Words


By Morgan Tarpley

The love of books can bring much to one’s life. We, privileged readers, are among those in the world whom extend our knowledge, imagination and joy through the written word.

And thankfully there are many of us worldwide whom share this love and wish to share it with others – either on a global or local scale. Two such opportunities have recently come my way through online information.

Taking the World One Book at a Time

Sometimes it only takes one person and one thing to make a difference in the lives of thousands. Thus is the story of a young woman from Minnesota and her love for books.

Thirteen-year-old Maria Keller took a stand to tackle world literacy at the tender age of eight and set a goal to send over a million books to children all over the world by her 18th birthday. She started collecting books through the nonprofit organization she founded called “Read Indeed.”
Maria Keller (photo from readindeed.org)
Keller’s organization brings in around 10-15,000 books per month with most of the donations from her home state. She recently met her goal this year by collecting over a million books– five years earlier than she expected. So far, she has sent books to 30 U.S. states and 13 countries.

Her book collection dream was birthed from her mother telling her that many children in the world do not hear bedtime stories or have access to libraries and books in general. There are also many around the world whom cannot read. According to the World Literacy Foundation, one-in-five adults cannot read or write, 57 million primary aged children are not in school, and 123 million young people are unable to read or write.

But this is why Keller and those involved with her organization keep on working. In the interview, she said she has a ton of help from the community and from all the people on the organization’s board. She added that it is amazing that so many people can care about her cause enough to help and that if more things were happening like it the world could be changed.

Keller is one of two recipients nationwide for the Jefferson Award and she was also recently honored for the ‘Outstanding National or Global Service by a Young American’ at the National Award Ceremony in New York City.

For more information about Keller’s organization, visit her website www.readindeed.org.

Books in the Yard

The other book distribution bit of news is quite unique and shares books with others on a community level through a movement called Little Free Library. These so-called “mini” libraries are mostly housed inside giant mailbox-like contraptions and anyone is welcome to borrow a book and replace it with another.

Two Little Free Libraries (photo from littlefreelibrary.org)
This concept began in 2009 with a man named Todd Bol in Hudson, Wisconsin. He constructed a little one room schoolhouse model as a tribute to his mother who was a teacher and loved reading.

He filled it with books, marked it with a “Free Books” sign, and placed it in his front yard by a little flower garden. He was soon building similar little book boxes and giving them away to his neighbors and friends who loved the idea.

More Little Free Libraries (Photo from littlefreelibrary.org)
Bol’s dream was to have 2,500 similar libraries by 2014. The idea has spread from Wisconsin to worldwide over the past five years and there are currently over 15,000 of his little free libraries in at least 24 U.S. states and in eight countries. He also started a nonprofit organization in 2012.

For more information about The Little Free Library, visit their website at www.littlefreelibrary.org.

Have you seen an actual “Little Free Library” or perhaps have one of your own? Do you know of other amazing book collection organizations in the world?
 
Morgan Tarpley is an award-winning newspaper reporter and photographer in Louisiana. She is also a historical novelist currently seeking representation. Besides writing and traveling to over a dozen countries, her interests include acting in her local theater, photography, historical re-enactment and singing.

For more information about Morgan, visit her website (
www.morgantarpley.com) and blog (www.pensonaworldmap.com). You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Goodreads.

17 comments:

  1. Morgan, what great stories! It is amazing what one person can start. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. This is so true, Sandra! It's so challenging and inspiring!

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  2. Hi Morgan,
    Thanks for sharing those stories. I love hearing about people who help change the world with their unique ideas. Good on them both.

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    1. You're welcome, Paula! Thanks for commenting! :) I thought these ideas were so unique too! I want a Little Free Library!

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  3. That's what I like about literature in printed form. It is easier to share a book than and Ebook Thanks Morgan. May their tribe increase.

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    1. I agree, Ray. And it's just more meaningful in this regard too. Though I do appreciate the convenience of ebooks, I'll always love those pages slipping through my fingers of my favorite tome. :)

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  4. I love encouraging stories like this. Thanks so much for sharing. It is amazing what one person can do to start changing the world for the better!

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    1. Hi Lisa! So true! I read about these ideas and was so inspired. It shows us how much a seed of an idea can grow into whole forests to positively affect the world for the better.

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  5. Thanks Morgan for sharing these two great stories. Just goes to show what one person or two can do.

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    1. This is exactly right, Dale! Thanks for commenting :)

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  6. What wonderful ideas and dreams coming to fruitin. Thanks for sharing, Morgan.

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    1. I think so too, Rita! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! :)

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  7. Wonderful stories and I hadn't heard of any of these! Thank you so much for sharing them. I LOVE those tiny libraries.

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    1. Thanks for commenting, Autumn! I'm glad to bring some new news to you! :)

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  8. I love this idea! Well done on that enterprising young lady! I am going to look into starting a little free library here.

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    1. Hi Shirley! I think starting a little free library would be amazing! Please give us an update if you do! :)

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