Horace Mann Elementary welcomed a new addition that has the community buzzing with excitement. A Little Library was built and installed on May 2 by parent and co-president of the Horace Mann PTSA, Michael Ewanchuck and his daughter Aleah, a fifth grader at the school. The mission and goal of this project as proposed by Shannon Leonard, a second grade teacher at Horace Mann Elementary is to promote the love of reading throughout the year. This mission was supported and presented to the PTSA by Megan Spaulding, the building principal at Horace Mann Elementary.

Together, they applied for a permit to install the Little Library. One of the benefits of having a little library on campus is the close proximity to neighborhood houses. It emphasizes a love of literacy and community as children and families gather around the library to browse and discuss books.

The Little Library is a place where students can donate a book and pick a new book, select from a wide variety of books including genres and reading levels and have conversations about the books they read.

Dedicated parent volunteers at Horace Mann Elementary will help stock and maintain the Little Library during the summer. The Little Library is stocked with books donated through PTSA sponsored events, programs sponsored by the school librarians and through local organizations. Leonard collaborated with Valaree Solheim, the manager of the Totem Lake Value Village in Kirkland, who has generously donated hundreds of books as an outreach project to help children in the local community. Staff, students and families welcome the Little Library to the Redmond community. Make sure to stop by for a visit and remember to bring your favorite book.

Shannon Leonard is a teacher at Horace Mann Elementary.