A Little Free Library at Cain
Students, left to right: Adamaris Lei, Juliun Herring, Kendall Flowers, and Chandler Jordan
Grownups, left to right: Carla Watford, principal of Cain Elementary School; Sissy Carroll, art teacher at Cain (and decorator of the Little Free Library), and Joyce Wingate, coordinating teacher at Cain.
The newest – and cutest – little library in Darlington County was unveiled with a ribbon cutting celebration on Friday March 26 on the campus of Cain Elementary School by four of the school’s top readers.
The Little Free Library was a collaboration between Cain’s Principal Carla Watford, and art teacher Sissy Carroll, who had both seen the unique libraries and loved the concept.
“I saw one in a neighborhood in New York,” said Watford. “I went online to learn more about the Little Free Library concept, and filled out a grant request from the Give It Forward Team (GIFT) and once we received our box, Sissy jumped right in to start decorating it.
“My sister has painted several, and I saw some at a park in Columbia,” said Carroll. “It think it is so cool that people in the park can get out a book to read when they are in the park, and then they can put it back and can also return them any place in the community. So if we had three or four, they could return it at any other box.”
“We started one here on our property, but if it goes well we’d like to do them throughout the community,” said Watford. “We are trying to spread the word.”
“I grew up here,” said Carroll. “I think it is wonderful for the community to start implementing new things to make the whole place better. It’s bright and it perks things up. The children have a lot of ownership since they watched me do it and I think they are very proud of it.”
The box has been placed on the corner of First and H streets on the campus of the J.L. Cain Elementary School, and has garnered much attention from the neighborhood. Joyce Wingate, a coordinating teacher at the school, lives in the neighborhood and has received many calls about the box.
“I think this will be a great impact for the community to come get books here,” said Wingate. “All we ask that the books are appropriate for children. We would love for the adults to share appropriate books here, too.”
Officer Steve Buffkin, the SRO at the school, will check the library often to insure that age appropriate books are inside.
“I think this is a great thing for the community,” said Buffkin. “Our kids are special here, and the neighborhood will really enjoy this. I hope we get many more around Darlington!”
The concept of the Little Free Library is simple: open the door, take a book, and feel free to leave one or a few for another person to enjoy.
This is the first in Darlington County; all Little Free Library boxes are registered, with photos posted to see how creative the boxes have been decorated across the country.
If someone would like to donate books for the Cain Little Free Library, they can drop them off at the school or call 843-398-2450.
Read more about the libraries at: littlefreelibrary.org
“I like to read, my favorite books are Junie B. Jones and Fancy Nancy books!”
Adamaris Lei, age 6
“I love to read! I’m going to pick one out now!”
Chandler Jordan, age 6
“I love reading. It makes me feel happy that kids can get free books!”
Kendall Flowers, age 8
“I like books because they help me learn more about animals and things in the world.”
Juliun Herring, age 8
The girls peek inside the Little Library, hoping they get to choose one!
Little Library at Cain features a picket fence and windows on both sides.
