The Hommes sisters, Vrenni (L) and Franci (R), with Becky Buyer, who deposited two books into the Little Free Library.

SWEDEN — The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club partnered with the Sweden Historical Society to dedicate the Little Free Library (LFL) on Saturday, August 5, one of the many festivities of Sweden Days. The dedication took place outside the historic schoolhouse, which sits between the Sweden Town Office and the Sweden Community Church. The church houses the Sweden Food Pantry on Route 93 near Sweden’s four corners. Rotarians Joanne Cohn and Carol Madsen participated in the ceremony, along with Kathleen Dunn Lyman of the Sweden Historical Society. Joanne, who is the Team Leader of the Club’s Literacy Project, explained the international nature of the LFL program and Carol Madsen mentioned that the Rotary Club was placing similar LFLs in Denmark and Waterford.

These Little Free Libraries were built by students at the Lake Region High School Vocational Education program. Rotary Club President John Eliassen is putting the finishing touches on each LFL before presenting them to the towns.

Joanne Cohn remarked, “When we initiated this project in Bridgton with the help of the Bridgton Public Library, our hope was that children who did not have access to the local library due to hours or transportation would be able to use the Little Free Library. However, these are open to folks of all ages. The concept is to pick up a book, drop off a book, but there is no strict adherence to that idea. We were pleased to have in those who attended the ceremony, examples of how they are used elsewhere in the world – at bus stops, crosswalks, anywhere where folks might be stopped for a short time and are able to browse. We hope our LFLs can be well utilized. Local libraries have agreed to help keep the shelves restocked with books.”

For more information about the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club, check out its webpage: LakeRegionRotary.com or its Facebook Page. To ask questions or get on its email list for upcoming events, contact LakeRegionRotary@gmail.com.