New Britain Public Library to Open First Little Free Library

New Britain Public Library Director Viktor Sjöberg has announced the unveiling of the Library’s first Little Free Library, in partnership with New Britain OIC.

“The celebration will take place at 4 pm on Thursday, November 20 at OIC, (114 North St, New Britain, CT 06051),” Sjöberg says.

“Leisure reading behavior is a key predictor of educational success,” says Sjöberg, “and the elimination of ‘book deserts’, has been cited as a way to address the structural inequalities that compromise children’s reading development. In light of this, the New Britain Public Library is launching an innovative movement involving literacy advocates across the city, working together to ensure that books are readily available to children in New Britain.”

Sjöberg says that, with funds from the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, there are to be at least 10 such Little Free Libraries across the city, so that, “free books will reach children that are geographically disadvantaged in that they may not currently have easy access to books or our public libraries.”

Friends of the New Britain Public Library is supplying books through community donations, and community members may also share books with these Little Free Libraries.

“We hope that you will join us in creating a movement of readers across New Britain!” Sjöberg says.