Little Free Library in Flamingo Bay a community project
Sally Plummer likes to read three or four books weekly. After finding many of the libraries closed during the pandemic, she had no way to get new books.
“I used to get them from the bookshelf at the VFW and different places that had free bookshelves,” said Plummer, “and they were all closed.”
It was then that Plummer began looking around to get ideas about how to begin a free library in her own community in Flamingo Bay on the island.
After having a pallet donated, another friend of Plum-mer’s built a bench, she purchased the book cabinet at a yard sale, which was painted by an artist, and the box, she said, was also built from the pallet, filled with concrete and fashioned with the post to hold the cabinet. The roof was decorated with several license plates, and the signs are made up of many fictional places, such as those found in books.
Living in a small community, such as Flamingo Bay, Plummer said, there were bound to be people passing in front of the free library location.
“There are older people, and retirees, and snowbirds,” said Plummer. “I just thought this was something people would want to see. The books painted on the front of the cabinet are some of my favorite books.”
According to Plummer, her free library registration is 111,007, meaning there are at least that many free libraries at this point. During a recent road trip, Plummer reports having seen dozens of little free libraries, where she would stop to exchange books in various places.
“After being locked up in the house, people can get new books,” said Plummer, “I think they’re excited.”
Plummer said she is more than willing to help anyone else who might be interested in beginning a free library and asks that people who stop in to please sign the guestbook to let her know the library is being utilized.
She said she would like to thank the many people who participated in this project, including Steve Kerby, Patrick Kunkel, Mike Gerner, Suzy Brooks Freeman, Jamie MacDubh, Craig Hoemke, Jim Newland, Bruce Archdeacon, Judy Knowlton, Leslie Riccardi, Star Ryan, Jan Kurtz Serig, Annie Nicholson & Hugh Bremner, Edie & Bill Perry, Kevin Lane, Karen Finn, Marilyn Moore, Bill Millinczek and Lisa Walton.
Flamingo Bay is located off of Stringfellow Road on the St. James City end of the island.