New Little Free Library

[West Valley City, Utah] ‐ [12/30/2017] ‐ Little Free Libraries are a global phenomenon. The small, front‐yard book exchanges number 60,000 around the world in 80 countries — from Iceland to Tasmania to Pakistan---and have been popping up around the Wasatch Front in recent years as well. However, the bulk of these have clustered along the eastern and southern edges of the valley. Now, a new Little Free Library on Burkman Way near Hunter High in West Valley City, will join the movement to share books, bring people together and create communities of readers. The new neighborhood book exchange is constructed from a mixture of new and recycled materials including some 400 pet food cans forming “Dragonscale armor”. The Library Steward, Heidi Evans, a fan of science fiction and fantasy who hopes especially to form a gathering point for like-minded individuals ( though book lovers of all genres are of course welcome), got the idea for the unusual covering after learning that her elderly cat, Tenten, had developed a chronic kidney disorder which would require life-long special feeding, and also watching a YouTube video demonstrating how to re-roof a garden shed with beer cans. Come spring, she also plans to surround the Library with a rock garden featuring xeric plants including an unusual variety of ice plant (a succulent) which was first discovered in a Salt Lake City garden. The Little Free Library nonprofit organization has been honored by the Library of Congress, the National Book Foundation, and the American Library Association, and Reader’s Digest named them one of the “50 Surprising Things We Love about America.” Each year, nearly 10 million books are shared in Little Free Libraries. To learn more, please visit littlefreelibrary.org.