Season 3 of Good Day Clermont! kicks off with the volunteer steward of Clermont’s Little Free Library, Carol Kortz. The podcast host, Bob Pautke, asked questions about the library's recent expansion and the future of reading accessibility in the community.
Carol Kortz at the Legendary Run Free Little Library
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During the early 2010s, Kortz became involved in the Little Free Library volunteer network. The organization is a registered nonprofit with over 200,000 locations worldwide. Clermont County hosts 41 Little Free Library locations, maintained by residents and supported by neighborhood homeowner associations.
Little Free Library stations allow residents to “Take a Book, Give a Book” without the hassle of library memberships, online platforms, or return deadlines. Some libraries are small cabinets resembling birdhouses on residential streets; others may be larger structures housing dozens of books, puzzles, and educational materials.
“To have a chartered Little Free Library, you need to fill out paperwork with the organization littlefreelibrary.org,” Kortz said about getting involved. She was part of the first significant Little Free Library construction at Legendary Run on Father's Day 2015. Kortz partnered with a local builder and artist who helped convert an auctioned dog house into a beautiful library with shelves for multiple stacks of books.
Volunteers help install the Little Free Library
“I met people I never would have met before,” Kortz said. “It became a gathering spot.”
The Little Free Library at Legendary Run remained in operation for several years, eventually requiring significant repairs due to weathering. An attempt to move the library with heavy machinery caused irreparable damage, forcing volunteers to coordinate a replacement.
Kortz says the new library shares a pavilion under the community pool, reducing exposure to the elements. It is also larger than the original structure.
Kortz mentioned the existence of other popular locations, including Pierce Park and Woodland Mound. The Little Free Library website offers a digital map so residents can find the closest stations to their homes.
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Anyone can participate in the charter and construction of a new station in their neighborhood. Interested parties should contact the organization for details on submitting design applications, funding construction, and selecting appropriate materials.
The Little Free Library plaque.
The United States is currently facing a severe literacy crisis due to under-resourced schools and a rise in the “attention-economy.” In recent national assessments reported by the Harvard Gazette, only about 30% of fourth- and eighth-graders tested proficient in reading, with proficiency among high school seniors dropping to 35%.
Clermont County issued a ten-year plan to help address education and youth development as the community continues to grow. Free Little Libraries offer residents an opportunity to access and trade literature to promote literacy at all ages.
Little Free Library in Clermont County
During her interview with Good Day Clermont! Kortz said she hoped that neighborhoods keep this priceless resource. She maintained that readers of all ages and genre preferences can find something suitable for them.
“Whatever you find in the Little Library is what your neighbors are reading.”
Learn more about free community resources in Clermont County.
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