Stephanie Smith, Lake Forest’s city clerk, has a passion for literature and reading. So too, do three local Cadette Girl Scouts from Foothill Ranch’s Troop 1859.
A former member of the Girl Scouts herself, Smith knew when the two sides collaborated on the idea of building a Little Free Library, it would make a great project for the three girls, who were looking to obtain their Silver Award.
“We knew (the project) needed to be something that was going to be around for a while,” said Kaitlyn Schisler, 12, who, along with fellow scouts Astha Parmar, 12, and Jenna Brown, 13, headed the project. “We all really like reading, so we knew what we wanted to do.”
Smith, 52, has wanted to place a Little Free Library in the city since she saw a post on social media by the non-profit organization.
The idea behind Free Little Library is for passersby to grab a book to read for free and to either return it when finished or place their own books in the library for others to enjoy. Simply put, “Take a Book, Bring a Book.”
In June, all four were at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first Free Little Library at the Lake Forest Sports Park. The structure is filled with a variety of books for kids and adults provided by Smith and the families of the three Girl Scouts, among others.
“We’re really happy that people have been using it,” Brown said. “Even right after the ceremony, kids ran up to search.”
Free Little Libraries have popped up throughout Orange County. Other nearby locations include Mission Viejo and Trabuco Canyon.
Todd Bol started the nonprofit Little Free Library in 2009, when he built a model of a one-room schoolhouse, filled it with books and erected it in front of his Wisconsin home.
Now, there are nearly 40,000 Little Free Libraries around the world, according to the organization’s website.
As part of the 2015-16 fiscal year budget, Smith was able to set a little money aside for the project. But from experience, she hoped to get the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts involved.
After reaching out, Smith received a call from Olivia Comroe, leader of Cadette Girl Scout Troop 1859, who told her about three Girl Scouts who were interested in the project. They joined Smith to formulate ideas for the design in late February.
The girls reached out to local contractor Bradlee Rodecker, a relative of Brown’s, and partnered with him to construct the library. Rodecker donated the time and materials for the project, while the girls came up with the design and executed the artwork.
“I knew we had a little bit of money we could help with,” Smith said, “but knowing the requirements of the award, part of it is financing. How can you fundraise? They went off and did the legwork.”
The Free Little Library is centrally placed at the Lake Forest Sports Park, near the soccer fields, playground and Recreation Center and next to a seating area. Smith strategically picked the location, thinking siblings and parents of those participating in sports leagues were likely to venture by and take a book.
“It’s turned out wonderfully,” she said. “It’s a great addition to the sports park and being right there by the playground, we have a lot of children’s books.”
After approval of the city’s budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year, Smith again has a small budget to build another Free Little Library. Building and placing the libraries make for great bonding between city government and the community, she said.
While a specific location hasn’t been set for the next Free Little Library, Smith said somewhere on the west side of the city, near the 5 Freeway, like Heroes Park, might be ideal.
“Most people don’t go to the library but they do take their kids to the park,” she said. “I don’t like to think of government as providing things for the people, I like to think of it as an interaction.”
Contact the writer: npercy@ocregister.com
