An Oconto Falls Boy Scout will create six Little Free Libraries in the Oconto Falls community as his Eagle Scout project.
Aaron Gonnering, of Boy Scout Troop 1024, presented his Little Free Libraries proposal to the Oconto Falls City Council, which approved the project.
Alderman Kevin Rusch said he thought it was a great idea, not only for an Eagle Scout project, but for the community.
Little Free Libraries are small wooden boxes that have books inside. Anyone can stop by and pick up a book or bring a book to share with other readers. The library boxes can be found in other communities across the U.S., including eight placed in Gillett this summer.
Gonnering said he chose this project so people in his community would be able to share their books with everyone else and to give people the opportunity to explore different types of books. He said he plans to work hard on the Little Free Libraries so he can finish them as soon as possible, and people can start enjoying them.
Gonnering will build all of the libraries himself and will customize each with a different theme. Each will be weatherproof to protect the books.
He estimated the libraries will cost $400 apiece, for a total cost of $2,400, and he will look for donors to help cover the expense.
Gonnering will check the libraries routinely to make sure they are clean and filled with books.
To start filling the libraries, Gonnering intends to have a book drive so each library has enough books to kick-start his Little Free Libraries.
Gonnering has several locations around Oconto Falls in mind for the libraries, including Pleasant View Park, City Hall and the east-side and the west-side city garages, all pending approval from city officials.
Once the libraries are installed at the selected sites, a map will be created and placed in each box to let people know the locations of the other libraries. The boxes will also have a plaque with a list of donors to recognize them for making the libraries possible.
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