• Little Free Library At DeJong's Dairy

You may be asking yourselves, "What is a 'Little Free Library'?"

In short, it's a “take a book, leave a book” concept where the honor system is used and you're encourage to share the books. Take one, return one or bring a different one.

Some of the information found on the inside of the door.

A bit of history about this organization.

From the Little Free Library website

In 2009, Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a model of a one room schoolhouse. It was a tribute to his mother; she was a teacher who loved to read. He filled it with books and put it on a post in his front yard. His neighbors and friends loved it, so he built several more and gave them away.

Link to webpage to read more about it.

While the Turner family was on vacation they saw a Little Free Library in Big Sur, next to a full size library. Since it was a Sunday, the regular library was closed, but the little one was open. 

Kaylyn Turner, senior at Santa Rosa Academy, needed a community project to graduate and came upon the idea of installing a Little Free Library in Wildomar.

She worked on the project for the last three months. The designing process started by looking at pictures of other little libraries online. Most were shaped like little houses, but because this one was going to be at the DeJong's Dairy, she wanted to fashion it to look like a little barn.

Kaylyn Turner at DeJong's Dairy next to the Little Free Library she installed.

One of the rules for the senior project is that she (or her family) could not simply pay for it, so she got the various materials donated. 

Before being filled with books.

The watertight metal box came from Harbor Truck Bodies, Shiloh Springs Ranch donated the cost of the registration for the library ($45), DeJong's donated the location, the books came from members of the community, and she noted the help from her parents in accomplishing this project too.

There were about a dozen members of the community on hand to watch Kaylyn fill the little library up with books. 

On behalf of the Friends of the Library, member of the group Ken Mayes, pledged to help keep the new installation filled with children's books as needed. 

Link to facebook page for the Little Free Library at DeJongs

How many Little Free Libraries are there?
As of November 2016, there were over 50,000 registered Little Free Library book exchanges in all 50 U.S. states, and over 70 countries around the world.

Can you make out an image from the blotches on the left?

But according to the registration number that was issued to this LFL, it looks like there are already many thousands more than that today.

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Link to Little Free Library Website

On your next trip to the DeJong's, for some of their famous chocolate milk, remember to take a moment and peruse this fine community asset. 

Hey, why not take a selfie of yourself in front of it, and then post it to their facebook page? Be sure to tag DeJong's while you're at it. ☺

This was painted by Kaylyn's mother Sharon Turner.

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The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.

— Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) 1904-1991

Wildomar Rap reminds you that reading is fundamental, especially if you want to make heads or tails of this blog.