W.H. Rhodes adds Little Free Library to the mix

MILTON — W.H. Rhodes Elementary School has joined the nationwide Little Free Libraries movement.

The school now has a place to retrieve books on the corner of Sanders and Byrom streets.

“We plan to keep a variety, from newborn … books all the way up to adult science fiction and mysteries,” Literacy Coach Diane Lewis said. “Just a whole wide range.”

The library may have originated with the school, but it benefits the entire community.

“We know that children that see parents read are more likely to read themselves,” Lewis said. “We just want everyone to take a book and read it, and bring it back if they can.”

The Little Free Library is also open for donations; anyone can add to the collection of books at various reading levels.

Kenneth Ragsdale, an ESE teacher at the school, built the library. His design was modeled after the Bagdad Train Depot.

The school’s principal, Michele Barlow, invited Ragsdale to build the library because she knew he was talented in that area, according to Lewis.

“Woodworking is a hobby of mine,” Ragsdale said. “It took a lot of glue and a lot of skinny nails to hold it together.”

According to Ragsdale, it took just a couple of weeks over Christmas break to build. The school supplied the wood, and he had leftover paint at home. He said that he used a picture of the Bagdad Train Depot for the design and proportions.

W.H. Rhodes Elementary has a literacy committee that oversees the library upkeep.

“We want everyone to know how important reading is, even for babies,” Lewis said. “How much they can learn from hearing that language and vocabulary.

“The more you read the better you get.”

These Santa Rosa County locations have Little Free Libraries:

•8543 Navarre Parkway, Navarre

•Tastee Freez/Big T, 6511 Caroline St., Milton

•Benny Russell Park, 5417 W. Spencer Field Road, Pace

•Bagdad Elementary School, 4512 Forsyth St., Milton

•W.H. Rhodes Elementary School, 5563 Byrom St., Milton

•Floridatown Park, 3900 Floridatown Road, Pace

•Santa Rosa County School Board, 5086 Canal St., Milton

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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: W.H. Rhodes adds Little Free Library to the mix