NORTHAMPTON — When Jane Fleishman unveiled her neighborhood’s new “Little Free Library” Monday morning on Munroe Street, the response was anything but little.
Around a dozen neighbors applauded as Fleishman pulled a black garbage bag off the wooden container mounted onto two posts in the South Street neighborhood, placing books by local authors inside the glass door. Other neighbors slowed down as they passed in their cars, smiling at the neighborhood’s newest institution.
“We’ve been working on this all year,” Fleishman said.
She and others from the neighborhood collected $263 at last year’s Labor Day block party, and the product of those efforts were on full display for this year’s festivities.
The little library, which has been registered with the nonprofit Little Free Library, was truly a neighborhood creation.
Silas Kopf, the Northampton fine furniture master craftsman, designed the library, and Julie and Jim Kurose agreed to house it on their property. Neighbors Susan Rogers, Joan Tabachnick and Cheri Cross helped dig the post holes, and on Monday, Munroe Street resident John Lombard screwed a knob onto the library’s door using a drill borrowed from another neighbor down the street.
Mayor David Narkewicz, who lives in the neighborhood, was expected at a ribbon-cutting later in the day. The neighborhood will hold a design competition for under-18 residents, and the winner will get to paint the library.
“I was wondering what this was going to be for two weeks,” Joan O’Brien said as she passed by.
“This is just incredible,” said Jacob Carter, who saw the library with his son Samuel while on a morning walk. He picked out a copy of “The Cookie Fiasco,” by Dan Santat, and sat on the curb to read it to Samuel. “This is a welcome surprise,” he said.
As Carter described his reaction, however, Samuel interrupted with a sentiment the library’s founders likely hope other children will have.
“Please read,” he implored his father.
Dusty Christensen can be reached at dchristensen@gazettenet.com.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on Sept. 6 to add Joan Tabachnick to those who helped dig the post holes.