In 2012, according to the Cleveland Little Free Library Movement website, Bob Cheshier began placing Little Free Libraries near Cleveland elementary schools to promote literacy and foster a love of reading by bringing books to children who didn’t have books in the home. When Bob passed away in 2013, the Cleveland community wanted to carry on his legacy. Margaret Bernstein, former Plain Dealer columnist, organized a fast-growing movement by partnering with the Cleveland Public Library, other literacy-minded organizations and individuals to further the mission. There are more than 100 Little Free Libraries in Greater Cleveland today.

In the July 2013 edition of the Cleveland Job Corps newsletter, Carpentry trade students worked with the youth at the Cleveland Central Promise Neighborhood summer camp building “Little Free Libraries.” Little Free Libraries are structures that look like little houses and are designed to be in-stalled in the middle of residential neighborhoods. Residents in the neighborhood can both donate and borrow books at any time. The project was a big success. Word-of-mouth traveled and the Carpentry trade was approached by Judy Payne of the Little Free Library Movement to continue their work constructing Little Libraries for the organization.

On October 12, 2015, Carpentry students participated in a Little Free Library event at the Trinity Com-mons of Trinity Cathedral working with community members to assemble the libraries. The students and instructors worked throughout the spring and summer of 2015 to prepare for this event. During the build process, the students learned to mill various pieces for the projects to assemble in to kits. They also prepared the pieces with further work, including pre-drilling all of the holes, grooving and notching the wood. The goal of the project was to teach the students how to come together and help each other work as a team. The students really enjoyed the event working with the community and showing off their skills. Everyone came home feeling very good about the work they did that day. The event leader, Judy Payne, reported “Six new libraries are headed to six different Cleveland neighborhoods after an incredible afternoon build at Trinity Commons. Our partners – City Re-pair and Job Corps Master Carpenters Mr. Lummus and Mr. Volpe prepared kits, neighbors and Job Corps students assembled. According to the students, they left happy and with an understanding of the value of teamwork. One of the neighbors described the afternoon as spiritual.