Little libraries a big goal for Berkley woman

Berkley Councilmember Jack Blanchard, and Friends of the Berkley Library member Shirley Hansen, stand next to the Little Free Library the pair worked on together. Hansen is heading up a drive to place the small structures, stocked with books, in every Berkley city park.

Berkley resident Shirley Hansen is on a quest to promote literacy throughout the entire town, a mission that includes each of the city’s nine parks, some plexiglass, paint, and a small amount of lumber.

If all goes well with Hansen’s idea, Berkley locals may soon begin to see dollhouse-size “libraries” placed throughout the municipal parks. Inside each small structure will be books for children and adults that can be read at the park, or taken home and returned later.

Hansen was inspired by the Little Free Library concept, a movement that places handmade, one or two shelf structures stocked with books, in places across the world. Detroit and the metropolitan area have become strong advocates of the crusade with over 40 registered libraries within a 20 mile radius of Berkley.

The final push to get the little library concept off the ground came when Hansen, a member of the Friends of the Berkley Library, saw a grandmother with her grandchildren at the Kiwanis Tot Lot park.

“I thought, if there was one there, she could have gotten a book for herself or a book to read to her grandchildren.”

Hansen then called on her good friend and celebrated woodworker, Berkley City Councilmember Jack Blanchard, to build the miniature library.

“I take perfectly good wood and turn it into sawdust,” Blanchard noted with a laugh.

Consulting the Little Free Library website for building plans, Blanchard constructed the modest edifice over the course of one month and at a cost of roughly $50. Hansen added the finishing touches by painting the structure a deep schoolhouse red.

After gifting the library to the city on behalf of the Friends of the Berkley Library in June, Hansen gave a brief presentation to the council members asking for their support. Additionally, the longtime Berkley resident did not stipulate where she wants the structure to be placed, leaving that decision up to the city leaders.

“I don’t want this to be a burden to anybody so I felt the parks and rec should choose, and DPW, they should work together,” she said.

Both Hansen and Blanchard would like to see other Berkley civic groups get involved by building their own libraries to be donated to the city parks.

“I feel that with the Friends of the Library donating this one, that it would be a great idea to have the other volunteer organizations to follow the lead,” Hansen said. “The more the merrier. It isn’t a competition or anything; it’s just to benefit the city and the citizens of this city.”

A ready stock of books, courtesy of the Friends of the Berkley Library, is available to any other volunteer organization that constructs and donates a little library.

For now, Hansen has done her part as she waits for word from the city.

“Everything is ready to go. All we need is for them to notify us when they want to pick it up and where they want to install it,” she said.

For further information on how to get involved with placing a little free library in a Berkley park, send an email to, sihansen@sbcglobal.net

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