Little Free Library Dedicated at Sanders Elementary

Cobb Collaborative has a goal of establishing 21 Little Free Libraries throughout Cobb County in 2021. Little Free Library (LFL) is a nonprofit dedicated to putting books in the hands of children and adults in communities around the world. On Friday, July 29, LFL number seven in Cobb Collaborative’s 21 in 2021 initiative was dedicated at Sanders Elementary School in Austell. This beautiful LFL was built and painted by CTAE (Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education) Students at Osborne High School and featured Sanders Elementary School colors as well as the Sanders Super Star logo.

This LFL dedication was held on the last morning of pre-planning for Cobb County School District’s 2021-22 school year. Principal Laura Bailey Fiedler encouraged teachers and staff to remind students to visit the Little Free Library since they have access to it during carpool, especially. Sanders Elementary School staff are excited and supportive of this addition to their school grounds given that it will benefit their students and the surrounding community. Cobb Collaborative Executive Director, Irene Barton, says “Any community benefits from the addition of a Little Free Library, but we have an intentional focus on under-resourced neighborhoods because we know that children in low-income households have approximately one book per 300 children versus middle income households who enjoy approximately 13 titles per child.”

Little Free Libraries play a vital role in encouraging a love of reading by providing free access to book. They operate under the “Take One, Leave One” theory. Studies show that improving access to books, particularly at home and native languages, is one of the most successful ways to improve reading achievement in children. In partnership with Cobb County School District Psychological Services Department and as the the local point of contact for the Get Georgia Reading Campaign, Cobb Collaborative is working to improve third grade reading levels in Cobb County by helping to increase access to books throughout the County. Data reveals that children who read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to graduate from high school. This, in turn, leads to higher education options, better employment opportunities, and improved health outcomes.

More Little Free Libraries will be established across Cobb County and we are excited with the progress of this initiative’s success. Establishment of Little Free Libraries is a collaborative effort, made possible by additional partners including the United Way of Greater Atlanta Northwest Region funding LFLs in Austell and Marietta and Girl Scout troops and Eagle Scouts who graciously help with building the LFLs.

For more information about the Little Free Library program, contact Irene Barton, Executive Director, at ibarton@cobbcollaborative.org