Eighth-grader Madelyn Larrimore of Greenbrier is a typical teenager. She likes to be on her phone, but she also loves to read.
When it came time to create a project for her seventh-grade EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technology) class at Greenbrier Middle School, Madelyn came up with the idea of the free libraries, called Read Boxes.
“We did a lot of reading in school — the school is trying to get us to read more — so I figured everyone could use a little more reading,” she said.
Getting students off technology was “part of the reason, but not the whole reason. I just wanted people to read more,” Madelyn said.
Three of the free little libraries, created from newspaper boxes, were unveiled July 19 at the Greenbrier City Hall. Two will be placed at banks — First Security and First Service — and one box at City Hall until Matthews Park is built.
Greenbrier Mayor Sammy Joe Hartwick said he saw publicity about the Read Boxes and wanted to get involved.
“I thought that was the neatest project that girl was trying to do, so we thought we’d help her out a little bit,” Hartwick said. “It was her idea, because she wants to get kids off electronics and into a book, which is a great idea.”
The mayor said he contacted the banks, who were excited about the project, even when they thought there was a cost associated with it.
“There’s no cost whatsoever,” Hartwick said.
“When we get Matthews Park finished, we’ll have our box up there under one of the pavilions so it’ll be available to people all the time.”
The mayor said his wife plans to buy books at garage sales “and distribute them around.”
Hartwick said he likes to read and may use a Read Box himself.
“I will probably thumb through [the books] to see what’s there,” he said with a laugh.
Madelyn said the name Read Box came from brainstorming with her EAST teacher and volleyball coach, Sandy White.
“We thought of Red Box movies, and we thought of reading,” Madelyn said.
White said Madelyn first designed a Read Box using computer software. Madelyn said Liz Kimble, the middle-school media specialist, had seen free little libraries created in discarded newspaper boxes and suggested that Madelyn contact the an area newspaper.
“I had seen newspaper boxes] at an EAST conference where they had used them as first-aid stations,” White said.
The newspaper donated three boxes. Graham Brothers Electric of Greenbrier donated the sandblasting, and GRT Race Cars of Greenbrier powder-coated the white boxes for free. Billy’s Trophies and Awards of Conway provided plaques recognizing Madelyn, as well as all the sponsors of the project.
A book drive was held during BrierFest in May, books were collected at City Hall, and Madelyn said Kimble gave her some of the books that weren’t being used in the school library.
The purpose of the EAST class is to teach problem-solving, White said, adding that Madelyn took ownership of the project.
“Kids choose a problem they see in the community and try to solve that using technology,” White said. “She saw a need, and I’ll tell you, she wanted kids to put down technology — texting and being on their phones — and do more reading.”
White said the school is emphasizing literacy.
“Reading scores needed to improve. She wanted to encourage her peers and our community to read more,” White said of Madelyn.
White said that last year, 35 percent of Greenbrier middle-school students, sixth- and seventh-graders, were below the state average in reading on the ACT Aspire test. However, that was a 4.5 percent improvement from the year before, White said.
Although White said she made some suggestions of businesses to contact, Madelyn took the initiative to get in touch with them.
“Like with any project, we had some ups and downs and slow times, but she was every day saying, ‘Coach White, what do you think I need to do now?’ She definitely took the leadership, … and that’s what EAST is about — kids doing and not me telling them what to do.”
White said Madelyn also gained confidence by talking to community partners.
“Greenbrier’s still small,” White said. “We don’t have all the resources other places do, but if we ask, I feel like people are looking for opportunities to help.”
White said “public libraries are great, but this is another opportunity” to get people to read. She said people are encouraged to leave a book when they take a book for a Read Box, and they may take the book back to any of the three Read Box locations. It’s also OK to just keep the book.
“We know going into this that there’s a big chance some of these books won’t get returned. If we get the books in the hands of [people], they’re more likely to read,” White said.
Madelyn’s mother, Elizabeth Larrimore, said she has been surprised at the reaction to the project.
“I’m proud of her; I never thought it would really take off like it did,” Larrimore said. “She did it all on her own, with Coach White.”
Madelyn said that when she’s with her friends, they do use their phones, but they try not to spend too much time on them.
“I do read a lot; I try to make it even,” she said of using technology and reading. She said her favorite book is The Thing About Jellyfish, by Ali Benjamin.
“I hope we can maybe grow [the Read Box project] in the future,” she said.
As for her future, Madelyn said she wants to be a speech pathologist. A well-read one, no doubt.
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.