Latest news with #BenjaminE.MaysIBWorldSchool
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Little Free Library Unveils 200,000th Book-Sharing Box
Milestone library is the first of 200 granted to Title I schools nationwide ST. PAUL, Minn., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Little Free Library® (LFL) nonprofit organization is proud to announce a significant milestone: the installation of the 200,000th Little Free Library book-sharing box. This landmark library has been donated to Benjamin E. Mays IB World School, an elementary school in St. Paul's historic Rondo neighborhood. It marks the first of 200 Little Free Libraries being granted to Title I schools across the country, in an effort to expand children's access to books. The 200,000th Little Free Library, located inside the school at 560 Rondo Ave, is exclusively for students. Designed to resemble a red one-room schoolhouse, it pays homage to the original Little Free Library built by LFL founder Todd H. Bol in 2009. This 200k milestone library joins LFL's worldwide network, which spans all 50 states, 128 countries, and all seven continents. "We are honored to recognize all the work done by our global network of stewards and supporters to reach 200,000 Little Free Libraries," said LFL Executive Director Greig Metzger. "But as we celebrate the past, today's event is just as much about the future. The promising future embodied in these young scholars at Benjamin E. Mays IB World School. The future where all of us, no matter our age, economic status or residence, have the opportunity to readily access a book that can inspire, motivate and empower. Working together locally as a community, a community connected through Little Free Libraries, we hope to make this opportunity a reality for all." To celebrate the unveiling, the school hosted a dedication ceremony featuring remarks from Metzger and Principal Dr. Kenneth O. Turner Jr., a ribbon-cutting, and story time. Roughly 50 students who excelled in a recent school-wide reading challenge attended the event. All 340 students, kindergarten through fifth grade, received books donated by Penguin Random House and participated in a dedicated reading session. "Freedom is the road seldom traveled by the multitudes; however, literacy is the gateway to learn one's past, present and shape the future," said Dr. Turner. "Through literacy, one can travel the world, reading and learning about historical figures who have shaped the world. Literacy can take you into space and travel the galaxies far away. In the words of Dr. Mays, 'It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for.' Through literacy all is obtainable." Two Hundred Little Free Libraries for Title I Schools Following this morning's launch, 199 additional Little Free Libraries will be installed at Title I elementary schools nationwide. The libraries are sponsored in part by Books Unbanned and three of its consortium members—San José State University iSchool, Brooklyn Public Library and The Seattle Public Library—and Mortenson. Each library will be stocked with 200 brand-new books, part of Penguin Random House's generous donation of more than 40,000 books. "Little Free Library is an essential partner in our effort to get more books into the hands of young readers that help them understand themselves and the world around them," said Claire von Schilling, EVP and Director of Corporate Communications and Social Responsibility, Penguin Random House. "We are honored to partner with them on this meaningful milestone!" Schools receiving these libraries and books were selected through an application process, with winners sharing compelling stories of how a Little Free Library will impact their students: PS189X - Cornerstone Academy for Social Action, Bronx, NY – "Surrounded by fast-food restaurants and auto repair shops, our 269 Pre-K through 5th grade students have limited access to books. A Little Free Library will empower them to build personal libraries at home, develop positive reading habits, and share their love of books with their families." Iditarod Elementary School, Wasilla, AK – "Our resilient students face significant challenges, with 100% qualifying for free and reduced lunch. A Little Free Library will provide more opportunities to engage with books, fostering a lifelong love of reading and supporting literacy development." Somerset Lakes Academy, West Palm Beach, FL – "Many of our students have little to no books at home, and transportation barriers prevent families from reaching the public library. A Little Free Library will serve as a crucial bridge, providing ongoing access to literature for students, their siblings, parents, and the community." To celebrate the 200,000th Little Free Library milestone and the distribution of 200 book-sharing boxes and 40,000 books to Title I schools, LFL is hosting a ticketed event on March 20 at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul. Those unable to attend can take part by sharing a book in a Little Free Library, starting their own, volunteering with Team LFL or donating to support LFL's mission of expanding book access for all. For more details, visit ABOUT LITTLE FREE LIBRARY Little Free Library® (LFL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds community, inspires readers and expands book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-sharing boxes. There are more than 190,000 registered Little Free Libraries worldwide in all 50 states, in 128 countries and on all seven continents. LFL received the 2020 World Literacy Award as well as honors from the Library of Congress, National Book Foundation and others. The organization grants Little Free Libraries full of books to underserved areas through its Impact Library and Indigenous Library programs and champions diverse books through its Read in Color initiative. ABOUT BENJAMIN E. MAYS WORLD IB SCHOOLThe Saint Paul community established Benjamin E. Mays IB World School in 1977. The school honors Dr. Mays as a leader in education and a great communicator. The school is an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB)/Primary Years Programme school. Benjamin E. Mays helps students gain skills to think critically, communicate, research, ask questions and take action in the world around them. ABOUT PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE As the world's largest trade publisher, Penguin Random House has a mission to ignite a universal passion for reading by creating books for everyone. We believe that books, and the stories and ideas they hold, have the unique capacity to connect us, change us, and carry us toward a better future for generations to come. ABOUT BOOKS UNBANNEDBooks Unbanned responds to an increasingly coordinated and effective effort to remove books tackling a wide range of topics from library shelves in schools and public libraries nationwide. Partnering libraries provide free digital library cards to teens and young adults across the country to enhance access to frequently banned materials and support the freedom to read. Media Contact: Margret Aldrich / 715-690-2488 x805 / maldrich@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Little Free Library Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
St. Paul students cut the ribbon for the world's 200,000th Little Free Library
Jakaylah Reed pulled a book out of the Little Free Library at her school on Tuesday. With so many books to choose from, why did the 9½-year-old ultimately select 'The Baby Tree' by Sophie Blackall? 'I haven't read it yet,' said the third-grader. Now, she can. As top readers in a school challenge, Reed and more than 40 of her fellow students at Benjamin E. Mays IB World School were in attendance on Tuesday to celebrate a ribbon-cutting event for the installation of the world's 200,000th Little Free Library, a book-sharing box that is now housed within their school at 560 Rondo Ave. in St. Paul. This particular box, geared exclusively for students and designed to resemble a red, one-room schoolhouse, pays homage to the original Little Free Library, which was built by the nonprofit's late founder, Todd H. Bol, in 2009. It's the first of 200 libraries to be granted to Title I schools across the country, with books provided by Penguin Random House, part of an effort to expand children's access to books. It was a proud moment for Reed and for the St. Paul-based nonprofit behind the Little Free Libraries that now span all 50 states, 128 countries and all seven continents. As the children gathered in front of their Little Free Library on Tuesday, Greig Metzger, the executive director of Little Free Library, shared the story behind these miniature libraries. The nonprofit that was born out of Bol's library box was officially established in 2012 in Hudson, Wis., with the idea of 'Take a book. Share a book.' By sharing a book, whether you are a volunteer library steward or someone dropping off a book, you share the world — and build community along the way. 'What we believe is that everybody should have a right to find a book to read and it shouldn't be a privilege,' Metzger told the kids. 'So one of the reasons why we have boxes like Little Free Libraries all over the world — there's even one in Antarctica, at the science station at the bottom of the Earth, the South Pole — is you should be able to find a book at any time.' Here, they can. 'The best thing about it, each of our babies will walk home with a book,' said the school's principal, Dr. Kenneth O. Turner Jr. On Tuesday, the students could each choose one new book from among those that spilled out from the Little Free Library and onto long stretches of tables displaying subjects of all kinds — from puzzles ('The Hardest Hidden Pictures Book Ever') to religion ('The Gift of Eid') to hair ('Hair Love') to gender ('Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope') to favorite characters ('Bluey: Time to Play!'). 'Our mission is to create books for everyone,' said Maya Livingstone, director of brand communication and social impact for Penguin Random House, as children around her browsed the books. 'We want kids to be able to see themselves in books. Little Free Library has been a wonderful partner for us in just helping us get more books into more kids' hands.' Reading is really important at Benjamin E. Mays; that's one reason the school was chosen to be the host of the 200,000th library. It's also needed. 'This will ensure that everyone can take books home and have access to books at home,' Assistant Principal Danielle Beck told the students. Thanks in part to a school reading challenge, the students of Benjamin E. Mays have already logged a lot of reading minutes this academic year. 'Students at Benjamin E. Mays have checked out more books per student than any other school library in the whole St. Paul school district,' Taylor Fischer, library assistant, announced during the event. The students who checked out the most books at this school were invited to select the first books out of the Little Free Library on Tuesday. That group included Reed, who individually has checked out the most books from the school library during the 2024-25 academic year (181 so far) and logged 800 reading minutes at home. While she held onto her new book and drank from a juice box, Reed considered why she likes books so much. 'The details and the surprises,' she said. Those details and surprises added up to the privilege of attending this event, which included Goldfish crackers for snacks and words of praise and inspiration from school leaders. 'Right now,' Principal Turner told the students, 'you are the leaders in literacy.' Following Tuesday's inaugural launch, 199 additional Little Free Libraries will be installed at Title I elementary schools nationwide. Books | Backyard meteorologist? Minnesota is looking for volunteers to help monitor rainfall. Books | Keith Ellison: Settlement reached with Maplewood man in lawsuit over 'deceptive' nonprofits Books | Defendant in $250 million pandemic food fraud case pleads guilty to wire fraud Books | Program in St. Paul, Stillwater, Shoreview to connect urban, rural students, teach leadership Books | Report: Older buildings that house the very poor are in danger of being sold off as maintenance needs climb Title 1 refers to a federal program that 'provides supplemental educational resources to ensure that all children have a fair, equitable and significant opportunity to obtain a high quality education,' according to St. Paul Public Schools. The libraries are sponsored in part by Books Unbanned, a program founded by the Brooklyn Public Library. Each library will be stocked with 200 new books, part of Penguin Random House's donation of more than 40,000 books. To keep celebrating the 200,000th Little Free Library milestone and the distribution of 200 book-sharing boxes and 40,000 books to Title I schools, the nonprofit is hosting a ticketed event on Thursday, March 20 at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul. More info on this event or other ways to join in are at
