SANFORD — Whether you’re 5 or 50, or 75, or 90-years-old, reading can be a great pleasure, a learning experience, an adventure in itself. Readers may be immersed in a story authored  by that fellow called Seuss, or  J.K. Rowling;  novelists like Dorothea Benton Frank or David Baldacci or authors of non-fiction titles.

Now, folks who live at Sanford Housing Authority’s East Side Acres complex can find something interesting to read at just about anytime, thanks to the Sanford Springvale Rotary Club and Goodall Memorial Library.

That is because they’ve established a “Little Free Library” there — currently holding upwards of 50 books — featuring a variety of titles, with some selected to appeal to youngsters and others to adults.

Rotarian Shawn Babine had heard about the Little Free library complex from Scarborough Rotarians and broached the idea with the local club.

Sanford Springvale Rotarian Lawrence Furbish  said the club “jumped at the chance,” because, he said supporting literacy is one of the club’s priorities. 

The stand alone, weather proof library was built by Rotarian Neal Meltzer and painted by children at East Side Acres.

Goodall Memorial Library Director Jackie McDougal said the little library was well received. Folks involved gathered Monday afternoon for a grand opening.

“Some (children) had come with books to already exchange,” said McDougal. “It really is for all ages, but our initial idea is getting books in the hands of children.”

“We’ll stock the shelves, and people can donate books at the library,” McDougal said. “We always have a good supply of donations and people will place some of their own books in the little library — place one, take one — on the honor system. People so far have been really receptive.”

McDougal said East Side Acres was chosen because a lot of families live there and transportation or work schedules might make it difficult to get to the main  library.

“It’s really a positive thing,” said Sanford Housing Authority Director Bill Keefer.

The program is a national one, operating in many communities across the country. Most, including the new one in Sanford, are registered with the Little Free Library national organization. A photograph of the library and its story appear on a world map on the organization’s website, said  Furbish. .

“One of the great things about this library is that it is open 24 hours, seven days a week, and every day of the year,” said Furbish in a statement. “It will have books for children, young adults, and adults and will include fiction and non-fiction. People wishing to donate books can do so through a Rotarian or the Goodall Memorial Library.”

Furbish said Rotary and Goodall Library are planning to build and place more of the Little Free Libraries at different locations around Sanford and Springvale. 

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.