Rotary Club of Marlin: Joy in Reading

Rotary’s Little Free Library, located at the south entrance to the Falls County Courthouse, is a refreshing place for visitors or residents to read a book. There, no-cost Little Free Library book exchanges are available to the community, 24 hours a day seven days a week, to encourage a love of reading.

The Rotary Club of Marlin’s Free Little Library’s mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding free book access. It believes all people are empowered and experience joy with the discovery of a personally relevant book to read. 

Rotary Club President Letitia Estep remarks, “All Rotarians are committed to promoting literacy, here and everywhere.” 

Rotary Club of Marlin continually collaborates with donations from Marlin residents, Marlin Public Library, civic organizations, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Beta Nu Chapter, and local businesses. A Rotary steward continuously restocks it.

Books in the hands of children have a meaningful impact on improving literacy. As Dr. Suess said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Reading develops the brains of young children, provides a window into the world around them, and helps them do better in all school subjects. The hope is the more books in or near the home, the more likely a child will learn and love to read. Books from the Free Little Library are free to borrow or keep; they can be for children to call their own.

Rotary Club President Estep explains, “Having too many books is not a problem. Not having space sufficient could be. Therefore, books are restocked and rotated frequently. Please, let’s keep exchanging books!” 

In its first year, the Rotary’s Free Little Library has seen the distribution and exchange of hundreds of books, books for readers of all ages and backgrounds.

By providing greater and equitable book access to residents, Rotary Club in Marlin contributes its efforts to conditions for joyful reading, strengthening the community, and influencing literacy outcomes.