By Mike Hazlip—
In 2015, a collaborative group of community members and organizations partnered together to install 20 Little Free Libraries around Citrus Heights in an effort to promote reading, but the small boxes have faced vandalism and theft over the years.
Incoming Rotary Club President Mark Duncan said his club is currently working with San Juan High School to repair and restore the miniature schoolhouse themed libraries after he said 12 were vandalized beyond repair or completely missing.
One resident contacted The Sentinel after noticing the libraries missing in front of the police station and C-Bar-C Park. She said she often dropped off books and magazines at the birdhouse-sized libraries and enjoyed reading books from the libraries as well.
Duncan said the libraries have been removed, and work is underway to repair and return them to their places. One of the few Little Free Libraries that was still in good shape was in front of the Citrus Heights Police Department.
“It’s kind of sad because most of the ones that are still intact, they had a few books in them, there were some that had a lot of books in them,” Duncan said. “I have a big stack of books to put back in them.”
Students at San Juan High School will work to rebuild or repair the Little Libraries and they will be replaced with a more durable metal pole and plate, Duncan said.
Duncan said the Rotary Club is seeking members of the community to sponsor the libraries. There is no cost, but sponsors are responsible for keeping an eye on the libraries, he said.
The Rotary Club worked with the History and Arts Commission to place the libraries at various parks around Citrus Heights in 2015, according to an earlier report by The Sentinel. The program is part of the Little Free Library organization that seeks to build community and inspire reading, according to the association’s website.
Since 2009, the libraries have popped up in various parts of the United States, and worldwide, each operating on the principle of “take a book, return a book.”
