Kyra's Silver Award Project

Spreading Literacy through My Bobby's Little Free Library

By: Kyra Cadungog 

“Little Free Library,” is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build, inspire, and expand literacy/book accessibility globally through Little Free Library boxes.  

It’s not always easy to go to the library before or after school as student schedules are full of classes. To solve this problem, I did my research and found out about the non-profit organization, “Little Free Library.” My name is Kyra Mariel Cadungog, an 8th grader attending First Colony Middle School and I am currently working on my Girl Scout Cadette Silver Award project. To make sure I had permission to continue with this project, I met with First Colony Middle School’s Principal and Librarian. The principal approved and the librarian has become my mentor. After the confirmation, I started acting by researching, building, and maintaining. 

At first, I wasn’t exactly sure how to start my little library. So, I researched on the Little Free Library website and found out you can contact others in your area who created their own library. I emailed someone closest to my area for advice on how they got started and how they built their library. This gave me an idea on how to start building, however I had to think about my plan first. I went to my mentor, and she gave me great advice that made me think about the location, sustainability, and physical design. She suggested that for the windows to either put a wire mesh or acrylic as having glass windows would not be the safest. I took many notes and intended on following it. 

Where did I get the books from? I am part of First Colony Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society and asked the head teacher if I could get NJHS involved with my little library. She agreed and sent out reminders for book donations, fortunately I’ve gotten over a box full of donated gently used books. Books have also been donated from family, friends and teachers. 

I don’t have my own workstation and equipment for woodworking. Luckily my Girl Scout Troop Leader, Alex Castillo has one and let me come over to start building my little library. I started with the frame, walls, and a shelf, but before the roof, I had to paint the structure both inside and out. I decided to go with a blue outside and white inside because First Colony Middle School’s colors are blue, white, and gold. Next, I attached the door and roof completing it. However it needs to have stability and height so, a post and base was built. Unfortunately, the first attempt at the base failed because me and my parents tried putting concrete inside but as it dried, it started to bulge and wasn’t flat at the bottom anymore. Second attempt, we built a wooden cube instead and it worked perfectly. To add to the appearance and theme of the school, I used templates and painted paw prints with black paint to resemble the mascot “Bobby.” There is a single paw print on the front at the top with the name Bobby inside it to show that its “Bobby’s Little Free Library.” 

The Girl Scout Silver Award purpose is so the Girl Scout can show how she can be a leader and help improve the community with sustainability. To make my little library sustainable, I have purchased a stamp and an official charter sign that says, “Take a book, Share a book.” This way, it will be an ongoing process of taking and leaving a book. I have also been stamping the books with blue ink, it states the address of the school and that it's been a part of the “Bobby’s Little Free Library.” Now that I officially finished my Little Free Library, I informed my friends, family, school staff, librarian, and principal that I would be having an opening for Bobby’s Little Free Library. Almost everyone showed up and I presented my speech for the new Bobby’s Little Free Library. My family and I brought cookies and drinks for everyone to enjoy for this new addition to First Colony Middle School. I was over joyous to give to my middle school community and now have something behind to represent me as I move on to high school. 

Although my Little Library is sustainable and finished, I still plan to visit it every now and then when I’m in high school. 

My Bobby's Little Free Library Opening Speech

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for coming to the opening of the new Bobby’s Little Free Library. This library is my Girl Scout cadette silver award project. The purpose of the Silver Award project is to contribute to the community and I decided to do my school community, First Colony Middle School. The library’s purpose is to let students have easy access to books. Based off my own experience, I noticed that it can get hard finding the time to go to the school library. So I made this for kids to have easy access. The sign “Take a book, return a book” means anyone can take a book and bring a book to replace the one they took. This way, it makes the project sustainable and an ongoing process. 

Thank you to every one who supported me throughout this project. I want to say thank you to Ms. Jacobs for being my mentor during this project and I appreciate all the advice she gave me. She made me think of all the problems and possibilities that could happen which helped with the design. I was also hoping that the next following office workers could check up on it every once in a while since I’ll be gone to high school. Thank you to Ms. Grady and Ms. Guidry for letting me get NJHS involved with book donations. They are the reason why I got books, they are all gently used books. Thank you to my friends and family for helping me with the visuals of this project and especially my family for motivating me throughout this project. Thank you to my Girl Scout troop leaders Tito Alex and Tita Jackie Castillo and Girl Scout Leader Magna Cayll. Lastly, thank you Ms. Muceus for letting me make this happen.