Champaign-Urbana Kiwanis Club "Little Library" full of kids books to Urbana Park District’s King Park.

A Little Library is a free book-sharing box based on an honor system where anyone may take a book or share a book. Persons may take a book to read, leave books for others to read, or return a book.

The box is located to the east of the Jettie Rhodes Pavilion.

“One of our teacher members felt there was a need during pandemic remote learning to find a way to get books into the hands of children in the north end of town,” Kiwanis President Steve Zahos said. “Several of our members took it from there.”

The library was built from a kit by Kiwanians Davie Mies, Al Boehm, Dick Bauer and others. Kiwanian Marianne Downey coordinated with the Urbana Park District to identify a site to install it.

Park District staffers installed the unit in King Park.

“We aim to have an 80:20 ratio of children’s books to adult books,” Downey said.

Urbana Park District Development Manager, Ellen Kirsanoff commented, "The park district is excited and happy to host the Little Library at King Park. We hope the community takes advantage of this Kiwanis Club donation and enjoys a good read."