The Bee Library: A Little Free Library Dedicated in Smyrna

 “She read books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.” This quote by Pulitzer prize winning author Annie Dillard from her novel entitled The Living speaks to the passion of Smyrna resident, Susan Ciavolino. Driven by a lifelong love of reading and a desire to share books with the community, Susan and her husband Marco have established The Bee Library: A Little Free Library (LFL) at 2800 Sanford Road SE in Smyrna. 

Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization dedicated to putting books in the hands of children and adults in communities around the world. These book-sharing boxes play an essential role in encouraging a love of reading by providing free access to books. They operate under the “Take One, Leave One” theory which encourages readers to not only take a book, but to leave one for others as well. The Ciavolinos have joined in partnership with Cobb Collaborative supporting the Collaborative’s mission to install 21 Little Free Libraries across Cobb County in 2021. 

A ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for this Little Free Library was held on Thursday, August 12, 2021. Family, friends and neighbors of Ciavolinos gathered to celebrate this event. The Bee Library is LFL number 10 to be dedicated by Cobb Collaborative this year with more planned for installation and dedication throughout the remainder of the year. As Cobb Collaborative Executive Director, Irene Barton, noted when speaking to those gathered for the dedication, “Research tells us that the single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school. These Little Free Libraries are one way to increase access to books and promote that love of reading.” Through a passion for reading and a spirit of generosity, Susan and Marco Ciavolino are helping to promote reading in their community. As Barton further notes, “There is a direct link between reading skills and high school graduation rates, which of course leads directly to employment opportunities, economic stability and ultimately, the health of our communities.” 

For more information on The Bee Library, visit www.thebeelibrary.com or follow on Facebook.

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