06/26/2019
Loomis Soroptimist Opens Little Free Library & Donates Hands-on Learning Table to Library
To support education, Soroptimist International (SI) of Loomis Basin has built and installed a “Little Free Library” and donated a table for building with plastic bricks to the Loomis Library.
SI Loomis Basin club president, Shari Lynn Goodwin, selected the Loomis Library and Community Learning Center as her president’s project this year. The table and stackable plastic bricks will allow for hands on-learning at the Loomis Library and appeal to children who are kinesthetic learners.
The SI Little Free Library is located at the Loomis Train Depot, near the corner of Horseshoe Bar and Taylor Roads. Community members may browse the bookshelf, take a book that interests them and leave behind a book that they enjoyed reading.
The purpose of the Loomis Soroptimist Little Free Library is to encourage reading and literacy by making books accessible to the community. The project fits with the mission of Soroptimist International which is to “transform the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment and enabling opportunities.” The concept of a mini community library is part of an international movement with millions of books exchanged annually and over 75,000 Little Free Library locations mapped on the nonprofit’s website (https://littlefreelibrary.org/).
The Little Free Library project was conceived by SI Loomis Basin board member Rae DeGabriele. “The Loomis Soroptimist Little Free Library is the perfect complement to our president’s project in that it promotes literacy by making books readily available in a popular location in downtown Loomis,” said DeGabriele. “We hope it inspires them to read more and go see what our town library has to offer.”
DeGabriele with Dee Ash, another club member and Loomis Library volunteer, are stewards of the local Little Free Library. “We initially stocked the mini library with books that might appeal to all ages and reading interests,” said Ash. “The inked stamp on the inside cover that identifies the book as coming from Loomis is a fun way of marking where the book started its journey. The club will continually add and rotate books as well as monitor the guest book where visitors can make comments and suggestions.”
Recent comments included: “It’s cool; I like your library. This is a good place to put it.” “Great idea! We will bring one next time to donate.” “This is a wonderful gift to all!” and “We will bring more books.”
The Loomis Soroptimist library was custom designed and built by DeGabriele and her husband Rick. “The Soroptimist logo is featured prominently to identify it as a club project,” said DeGabriele. “We wanted the design to be inviting so those walking by would stop and take note of what the Little Library has to offer. There is also a bulletin display identifying the Soroptimist club’s upcoming events, mission statement and contact information.”
SI Loomis Basin is part of a worldwide organization that envisions that women and girls will achieve their individual and collective potential, realize aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong, peaceful communities worldwide. The Loomis club provides grants to teachers, a high school scholarship and the Live Your Dream Award to help women who are going back to school to support their families. Additionally, the Loomis club conducts the Soroptimist International Dream It Be It program with Koinonia Foster Homes/Group Homes help girls overcome obstacles and plan for their future success. The club also supports the Loomis Senior L.I.F.E. Center and sewed hundreds of fashions for Dress A Girl Around the World.
To learn more about the club, go to www.soroptimistloomis.com and find Soroptimist Loomis Basin on Facebook.
The club doesn’t meet in the summer. The club meetings will resume in the fall on the first and third Wednesday of the month at the Train Depot, 5775 Horseshoe Bar Rd., Loomis from 5:30 to 7:00 pm; guests and those interested in joining are welcome. Soroptimist (soroptimist.org) is an international volunteer service organization for business, professional and retired women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. Soroptimist International of Loomis Basin (www.soroptimistloomis.com) is a 501(c)(3) organization.
