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Libraries on the Loose: 10 West Hill/Renton Little Free Libraries
Jack’s Library can be found in Upper Rainier Beach.
The West Hill neighborhoods of Bryn Mawr, Lakeridge, Skyway, and Earlington are dotted with Little Free Libraries—tiny, usually homemade book shelters serve as “take-a-book, leave-a-book” stations where neighbors can share their favorite literature and stories.
“This is an area where a lot of kids walk to school,” said one West Hill neighbor with a Little Free Library. “Also there is a fire station and food bank and post office. A young neighbor moved in and has motivated myself and others to own the neighborhood an help make it a better place to live.”
According to littlefreelibrary.org—a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world—the movement began in 2009 when a Wisconsin man built a model of a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former school teacher who loved reading. He filled it with books and put it on a post in his front yard. His friends and neighbors loved it so much that he built several more and gave them away. Each one had a sign that said FREE BOOKS.
“We wanted to have a little free library in our neighborhood,” said another West Hill neighbor. “I went looking for some materials at a local recycle material store and found that they had old newspaper boxes for sale. I modified one, giving it a roof and a basement.”
Neighborhood Spotlight: Skyway Library
Skyway Library is open Monday-Thursday 10 am-9 pm; Friday 10 am-6 pm; & Saturday 10 am-5 pm.
Opened on January 26, 2016, the Skyway Library is an 8,000-square feet neighborhood jewel designed by Weinstein A/U. The big blue building features computers, printers & Wi-Fi, meeting room, photocopier/scanner and after-hours book return.
“We’re so lucky to have a place like Skyway Library in our neighborhood!” says one Facebook review. “This place is truly our community hub – whether you’re in a club, a child building healthy social relationships and learning about bugs, a teen interested in immersing themselves in activities they actually care about (like a “Hunger Games” obstacle course) or an adult interested in documentary films and live music… or, you just want a great book.”
