A new Little Free Library sponsored by the Monday Night Book Club, aka Wine, Women and Words, has been installed at Shawano Lake County Park.
The library was suggested by the newest member of the club, Mary Windmiller.
“A plaque on it will read that it is sponsored by the Monday Night Book Club,” said Jane Melchior, the retired teacher who started the club in October 2011.
Another plaque will read that it is in memory of Corey Krueger, who died recently. He is the son of club member and retired teacher Sue Krueger.
The Little Free Library program began in Hudson by a son who was honoring his mother who retired from teaching. Now there are hundreds of them nationwide and around the world. It was an easy decision to sponsor it for the club members, many of whom are retired teachers.
In late summer 2010, Melchior approached women in her card club who seemed very interested in starting the book club.
“I had been researching book clubs for several years and spoke frequently about it with a friend who was in one in Fond du Lac where I previously resided,” Melchior said. “I already had a book chosen, “The Glass Castle,” by Jeanette Walls, and so it began.”
Books are selected by the members, who have read classics along with recently published books. They have covered fiction, nonfiction, thrillers, World War II and Civil War histories, memoirs and books about diseases, flowers and relationships. Their book travels have taken them all over the world.
“Because of my teaching background and master’s in reading, I suggested we read a youth book every year as well,” Melchior said. “Never underestimate the enjoyment of reading something written for the younger set.”
The club keeps a list of the books they have read and stays current of what other clubs are reading on bookmovement.com, a website of the top 100 books.
“There’s never a shortage of books to read,” Melchior said. “Many of us are Shawano Woman’s Club members, too, and we share some of our titles with them in their newsletter.”
The members of the club are from various backgrounds and education levels. Most of them are retired but a few work part time. Some of them go south for the winter.
The Little Free Library was made free of charge by College of Menominee Nation students under the direction of Craig Fox from the technical education department. It is stocked with books that people can take for free and then return for a new book. The book club will collect books for the library at the county park and stock it from May to October. The park will put it in storage for the winter.
“Several of us live nearby and will monitor it for restocking when necessary,” Melchior said.
The book club meets the first Monday evening of the month for a couple of hours. The members take turns hosting in their homes. For more information, call Melchior at 715-526-6727.
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