Little Free DIverse Libraries Holding Art Contest For New Designs

Westwood’s Little Free Libraries have joined the Read In Color Initiative. “[This initiative will] help distribute books that share different perspectives on race and social justice. We believe everyone should be able to see themselves in the pages of a book and that books can be a window into experiences that are different from our own. We hope to provide a robust selection of diverse books to work toward a more unified, empathetic, and understanding community. We have several Little Free Libraries in Westwood in need of updating to help fit this mission!” Says the Early Childhood Coordinator for Westwood's Coordinated Family and Community Engagement, Janey Lucey.

To aid with this change, there is a contest to help makeover the existing Little Free Libraries in Westwood. The contest runs now through April 30, 2021. The winners will be announced on May 4. Paint and supplies will be provided to the winners. Submit ideas and proposals to Lucey via email at jlucey@westwood.k12.ma.us.

“Design ideas/proposals that will help our Little Free Diverse Libraries better showcase our mission. We want the Little Free Diverse Libraries to be easily identifiable as welcoming and inclusive and that this book share program aims to share books that share different perspectives on race and social justice. When people visit the Little Free Diverse Libraries either to donate or to borrow books, it should be obvious that the Little Free Diverse Libraries promote this mission,” explains Lucey.

The Little Free Libraries that have joined the community wide initiative thus far are located at:

• The TotLot on Nahatan St.
• The School St Playground
• Hanlon Elementary School
• Downey School

“The Westwood Early Childhood Council (WECC) acts in an advisory capacity to further the goals and objectives of the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grant program. The Westwood Early Childhood Council received a generous grant in 2017 from The Foundation for Westwood Education for the two Little Free Libraries currently located at the playgrounds with the goal of creating a community-wide book share. I am the steward for these two Little Free Libraries and have invited other stewards to join me in this new Read In Color/Little Free DIverse Library initiative,” says Lucey.

To donate to the Little Free DIverse Libraries in Westwood, they have an Amazon list.

“We welcome all submissions. We currently have 4 Little Free Libraries in need of updating and are seeking more stewards of Little Free Libraries in Westwood to include their Little Free Libraries in this contest. The more Little Free Libraries, the more creative winners!” Concludes Lucey.