Memorials

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      On the boundary of Friendship Park, just outside the entry to the future children’s Storytime room, you will find a new addition to the park’s community-friendly features. It’s a Little Free Library, which was primarily funded by donations from members of the Quail Crest Book Club as a memorial to a young mother who died tragically, leaving an eight-year-old son.

      The book club wanted to do something to memorialize the mother—Nicole “Niki” Zimmerman—for her son. So, the Friends shared some options with them, and the Little Free Library (LFL) was their choice.

      The Friends and library staff will share in the care and feeding of the LFL, which will include a healthy quantity of children’s books aimed at eight-year-olds, according to Joe David, Friends president.

      “We already had plans to install a LFL in the park,” he said. “So, when we heard about the book club’s generosity and desire to honor Niki and her son, we thought dedicating the LFL to her was the perfect way to do so.” A plaque will soon be added to the side of the LFL as a memorial to Niki.

      Little Free Libraries got their start in Wisconsin in 2009 and have become a global book-sharing movement. The idea behind them is to help, primarily children, understand the importance of reusing items while also increasing their access to books. Parents are encouraged to drop off books, giving other children the chance to enjoy them.

      Today, there are more than 150,000 of them licensed with non-profit organization Little Free Library in 115 countries, with millions of books exchanged each year.

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