Twin sisters Jane Mitchell, left, and Jeanie Mitchell, right, stand beside their Little Free Library outside of 266 W. Fourth St. Little Free Library is a book exchange where people can take a book from the shelves and replace it with a different one. The Mitchells’ library includes books for children and adults. (Journal-Tribune Photo by Georgia Davis)
On a stand outside 266 W. Fourth St. is a two-shelf wooden box filled with books, ranging from Dr. Seuss to murder mysteries.
Twin sisters Jeanie and Jane Mitchell decided to set up a place where people could take free books from the structure and read them. The two had heard of Little Free Library and went through the process of establishing their own.
Little Free Library is an international non-profit organization that promotes reading through a free book exchange. There are more than 50,000 libraries in more than 70 countries. According to the Little Free Library’s world map, three others are located in Marysville – at Hickory Drive, Creekview Drive and Fifth Street.
When someone sees one of them, they can take a book from its shelves and replace it with another. The Mitchells said people can also keep a book without replacing it.
The sisters grew up reading and wanted to share their love with the people of Marysville.
“We want kids to learn to love reading as much as we did,” said Jeanie, who lives on the property with the Little Free Library. “(Our mom) was afraid we were spending too much time inside. Mom was wanting us to go outside and ride a bike or something.”
People who visit the book box can enjoy the outdoors on their way, as it’s positioned outside of the house.
The library’s bottom shelf is primarily filled with children’s books and the top shelf is for the adult readers — though Jeanie said some adults like to pick from the bottom too.
“Sometimes I’ll just go out and get a kids book and read it while I eat my lunch,” she said.
Jeanie moved to Marysville from Illinois almost two years ago and said she is meeting people through the library. Jane, who lives in Dublin, said they lived apart for about 35 years, so it was fun to take on the project together. Jeanie and Jane act as stewards of the local initiative. They got the project started and make sure it remains in tip-top shape, but they don’t often influence the book selection.
“The community is really in charge of it,” Jane said.
There are no regulations as to what the library can look like, but all registered libraries must have the organization’s official sign.
The cost of the library structures vary in prices depending if the owner decides to buy from the organization or build one themselves. The cost of the libraries sold by the organization can range from $40 to $2,500. Along with the cost of building or buying a library, there is a one-time registration fee of $42 per box.
The Mitchells chose to hire someone to build their library. Jane had gone to a craft show with business booths and found Jon Blake, who makes structures that resemble people’s houses. Jane thought that would be perfect for the project and won a raffle prize for a free installation.
Though it took a couple of years to get the library up, the Mitchells have received positive responses. There have often been repeat visitors in the month it has been there.
On occasion, the Mitchells will see books from their childhoods and remember reading them. Jeanie said it’s “like seeing old friends.”