DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — When you think of libraries, you may not picture them by the slide on the playground. Councilwoman Consuelo Cruz partnered with other community leaders to build little libraries in Mueller and Hess parks.
"We all know reading is important. So, if we put the books in the park for kids, we can meet them where they are, where they're already going to be. It's a reminder to them that this is a priority to read books," Cruz said.
There are little libraries all across the world. People are able to use an app to see which one is close to them, and the books are free. Cruz says giving communities free access to literature shows them it is important.
"We care about your success, and [the library] is a symbol to the people who come to the park that they are important," Cruz said.
The inspiration for the parks' libraries came from Cruz and her granddaughter going to the park and reading together. Cruz says other kids would see them and join.
"As we're reading a book, lots of other kids come and they like hearing books being read, so I thought it would be great to have a little library in the park where kids have access to the books, and it helps contribute to literacy," Cruz said.
If you or your child have books to donate, you can look for the colorful stand in the park and put them in the little library.
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