Book stores have always been a favorite pastime of mine. Every time I visit a new city I find myself making a stop in a local bookstore and buying something for the trip home. Nantucket, San Francisco, Santo Domingo, Paris, London, Barcelona, Buenos Aires – they are all places I have vacationed, and they are all places I have visited a local book store or stall.
Not every community can support a bookstore, and so about two years ago I found out about Little Free Libraries popping up around the entire world. You can find them in rural towns and major cities. I have mentioned many times my desire to see a bookstore in downtown Newburgh. And while that might still be premature, a Little Free Library is completely feasible. And soon one will be installed at Safe Harbors Green, at the corner of Broadway and Liberty Street.
I contacted local carpenter, Stephen Sinnott, to see if he would be willing to build a simple small library for a fee. Stephen not only built it free of charge, but also built one of the most stately Little Free Libraries I have ever seen! All of the materials used to build the library were free of charge. The lumber came from Space Create, the copper roof from ABC Supply and Stephen reused 100 year old windows he found from a Balmville carriage house. Inside there is a rotating book shelf and a whimsical door knocker on the side.
The library will be installed when benches have finally been placed in the park, sometime mid-October. What is a Little Free Library anyway? They are kiosks that hold free books to promote literacy and a love for reading. You can take a book and leave a book, which I highly encourage you to do!
This library is something truly special and unique to Newburgh. I would like to send my heartfelt appreciation to Stephen for being so willing and available to build the library and to Safe Harbors of the Hudson for finding a place for it.
There are other active library projects in Newburgh at the Newburgh Free Library and the Fullerton Mansion. Newburgh is also home to many published writers, open mic nites, Thornwillow Press and a poetry reading is happening at Ms. Fairfax this Saturday. Who knows, perhaps a pop-up book shop is in Newburgh’s future?
Top honors for conception, design,execution and balls’iness.
Wow, looks great. We have a few of these in the Williamsport, PA area where I come from and I am often a borrower/contributor. I am happy to do the same here now that I will soon be a resident.
Welcome to the Little Free Library community! What a beautiful and unique Little Free Library! Don’t forget to register it on the map and purchase the signs to make it official. There are a few other Little Free Libraries in the area. Mine is located in the Town of Newburgh. Good luck! I can’t wait to visit!
Cher, how beautiful It looks like all the elements of an old library packed into a teeny space. Thanks for making this donation to Newburgh! It’s going to be such a great addition to the park!
All Stephen’s doing!
I love it! And that’s all I want to say. I intend to say no more. (So stop telling me that my “comment was too short.”)
Sorry, it avoids spam
This LFL is amazing! I love the idea of a rotating shelf. I can’t wait to check it out. I’m the stewart of the Beaver Dam Lake LFL in New Windsor.