BIG RAPIDS — The Big Rapids Community Library has several Phelps Little Free Libraries placed around the city for use by residents. Phelps Little Free Libraries are a community book exchange, where patrons can take a book and leave a book.
Library director Lauren Perkins said they have been working on refurbishing and replacing some of the existing Little Libraries, and recently, volunteers from Habitat for Humanity have taken on the task of building several new Little Libraries.
Volunteers Dave Hammelund, Terry Kimble, Jim Angell, Ken Smith, and Habitat staff member Jim Baer provided the supplies and the manpower to construct the little houses that will become Little Library installations around the city.
Perkins has reached out to Artworks Big Rapids, 106 N. Michigan Ave., to help decorate the newly built little libraries, and is considering talking with the Big Rapids High School art classes, as well.
Perkins said they have not yet determined where the new Little Libraries will go, but she is working on those plans now.
“One of them will go at the community pool, and I am sort of spreading them out,” Perkins said. “I will talk to the parks and see if we can put one at Northend (Riverside Park) and possibly at Swede Hill. When we find out where they will go, I will add them to the bookmark.”
There are currently bookmarks available at the library that have a map of the Phelps Little Free Library locations throughout the city.
Locations include:
- The Anna Howard Shaw Memorial Park, 426 S. Michigan Ave.
- The Mecosta County Welcome Center, 127 State St.
- The Pocket Park, 123 N. Michigan Ave.
- Hemlock Park on Hemlock Street
- Pediatrics Associates of Big Rapids, 650 Linden St.
- St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 323 S. State St.
- United Church of Big Rapids, 120 S. State St.
- Big Rapids Housing Commission, 9 Park View Drive.
Phelps Little Free Libraries are named for Harriet C. Phelps, the widow of a Big Rapids businessman and state legislator, who wanted to contribute to the intellectual growth of her community and was instrumental in establishing the Big Rapids Community Library, according to information provided by Perkins.
