KidLit Heroes : What is the Front Porch Library?
By Jan Godown Annino
Are
you one of those dreamy teachers or imaginative writers who has fantasized about becoming a librarian?
Today KidLit Heroes
shares some links about one author who did that.
But, it didn't happen in the conventional way.
The
Front Porch Library is unique in Florida, perhaps in the United States.
It is the bricks-and-mortar
representation of the wide-open heart of award-winning children’s author Adrian Fogelin.
In
a small home that once was graced with the presence of her dear departed Dad,
Adrian invites children in the working class neighborhood to check
out books.
The
young readers sit or stand for lively story times, book talks, science fun, the
chance to shoot a few hoops, crafts, & cake.
Her
project has captured the attention of area authors, who
stop by to visit. Front Porch Library is
supported by donations & towers of hours of volunteer time, including enthusiastic high school Key Club students & the
Library’s faithful professional educator-colleague, Kary Kublin.
Every
Sunday afternoon when the author is in town, the Front Porch Library is
officially open. Year after year.
I
hope you will be charmed by a documentary about the unique way that an award-winning author says, "You're totally going to LOVE this one!"
Hi Jan: Such an amazing, unique concept, for a library that promotes the love of reading. Not only are books shared, the many activities sound so inviting. ~Suzy Leopold
ReplyDeleteYou are right Suzy. Adrian puts so much thought into the projects. One example is finding a science educator to talk, who had the FPL readers do a "create a volcano" event.
DeleteI agree. Cool concept! Thanks for sharing with us Jan!
DeleteMy pleasure Todd. Thanks for learning about The Front Porch Library.
DeleteHow wonderful that she has opened up her world of books and her heart to the children around her. Go Adrian!
ReplyDeleteI will tell her you said so, Pat!. Thanks for visiting Front Porch Library.
DeleteThis is fabulous. It reminds me also of the concept of communities I've heard of that people have taken small buildings ( a shed of some sort or other unique structures) and made them a drop off-collection site of various books - people drop off books they are finished with and can 'borrow' or take a book they want to read.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, great connectivity - thanks for mentioning. I recently took a picture of one on a trip (Massachusetts) & I understand we have 2 here in Tallahassee now. I think it's The Tiny Library, or something such as that. Thank you for visitng FPL.
DeleteWhat a neat community concept! Thanks for sharing this with us!
ReplyDeleteThank you back Tina!
DeleteI want to thank Jan for sharing the Front Porch Library with you all. When I started it the notion was to put books into the hands of our neighborhood kids. Little did I know it would turn into a place where kids would come every Sunday to cook, build, do science experiments, learn about nature, sew and--always--put crazy colored icing on the weekly cake.
ReplyDeleteThe library celebrated its fifth birthday last month. As always the kids spent the Sundays prior to the event chopping and cooking--we invite the neighborhood to a dinner each year to celebrate our continued existence. This year we fed 32 people, spaghetti of course--we're on a tight budget!
At a recent IRA conference I met two other authors, Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy who were moved by my description of the FPL. They donated $2,000. With that unexpected windfall we were able to send eight kids to summer camp at the nearby natural history museum. Despite the fact it is a mile and a half away from our neighborhood most of the kids had never been there.
The idea of "library" seems to have no limits, or if it does I have yet to find them. Here's to many more years of turning the produce from our community garden into spaghetti sauce and gathering with neighbors to celebrate the books, the kids, and the volunteers of the Front Porch Library. Adrian F.
Dear Adrian, Thank you with birthday candles on top for this update. Some day at a bookish event I hope to be able to meet & thank in person Alma Flor Ada & Isabel Campoy, for their gift to children of the FPL. I've read Alma but Isabel is new to me so another thank you for connecting us to authors new to us. You do that often. You are a light in the children's literature world.
ReplyDelete