PITTSBURGH — Colorfully decorated and each with a different design, small wooden boxes popping up across the city of Pittsburgh are the newest chapter encouraging people to read more.
"I just hope reading becomes more fun and literacy, getting books, isn't a challenge for children who are in households that don't have books," said Zhenya Gelman of the nonprofit Repair the World. "It's in your neighborhood. You don't have to go out of your way. You can just pick up a book without having to check it out, return it whenever you're free or whenever you're done."
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Gelman and Brashear High School students are making books available to people of all economic backgrounds.
They are setting free "libraries" in city neighborhoods, the first of which went up last week outside Zeke's Coffee Shop in East Liberty. Anyone can take a book or contribute one.
"People can grab a cup of coffee and grab a book and sit down on the stool and just relax," said Chris Rhodes, owner of Zeke's Coffee Shop.
The Little Free Library movement started in the Midwest in 2009 and has made its way to Pittsburgh.
The kids from Brashear made the library boxes in shop class. There are 40 Little Free Libraries ready to be adopted and installed in local neighborhoods, and there is a waiting list for more.
"Usually Brashear, some stories on us for other things, so I'm glad that it's something good and we can all be proud of," said student Kala Adam.It's believed there are 25,000 Little Free Library locations worldwide.
Anyone interested in having a Little Free Library in their neighborhood can contact Repair the World Pittsburgh. (Click HERE)
The shop class at Brashear, where the boxes are made, is also looking for community support. Emails can be sent to debra.smallwood0163@gmail.com.
WPXI
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