The Ledger

By Becky Holland

Eight years after Lydia Belflower built a handful of Little Free Libraries throughout Cochran as a 4-H community service project, her hope is still being fulfilled one book at a time.

Now 22, Belflower recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Environmental Science Communication and a certificate in Leadership and Service. This fall, she will begin pursuing a master’s degree in agricultural communications.

Long before college, however, Belflower’s love of books began at home.

“My mom always read to me,” she recalled. Before school assignments took over, reading was one of her favorite pastimes.

So when it came time to choose a 4-H project as a teenager, books seemed like the natural choice.

Inspired by the Little Free Library movement, Belflower secured funding from a variety of sources, including Ocmulgee EMC and had several Little Free Libraries constructed throughout Cochran. Original locations included the Bleckley County High School track, Bleckley Memorial Hospital, the Bleckley County Health Department, the laundromat and the Recreation Department. Over the years, additional Little Free Libraries — created through other efforts — have also appeared in front of the Cochran-Bleckley County Chamber of Commerce and the local consignment shop.

Belflower said she loved the idea of making books available to anyone, especially those who might not have an opportunity to visit the public library regularly.

The concept is simple: take a book, leave a book. Those who don’t have a book to donate are still encouraged to take one, while others cleaning out bookshelves can help keep the libraries stocked by leaving books for future readers.

For Belflower, the project became much bigger than a competition.

Although it began as her 4-H project and advanced to state competition, she came away with a deeper appreciation for community service and the difference a simple idea can make.

She remembers keeping the trunk of her car filled with books so she could restock the libraries whenever they needed attention.

Through another part of the project, Belflower also helped place books at the Health Department for first-time mothers, hoping to encourage parents to begin reading with their children at an early age.

Belflower believes reading and literacy remain important needs within every community. Little Free Libraries, she said, help bridge gaps by putting books within easy reach while encouraging neighbors to share with one another.

When Belflower left for college, she hoped another 4-H student would continue expanding and maintaining the Little Free Libraries she had started.

That is why she was excited to see The Ledger recently highlighting Cochran’s Little Free Libraries.

“It’s encouraging to know people are still noticing them,” she said.

For Belflower, the greatest reward was never a trophy or a ribbon. It was knowing that years later, someone might still discover their next favorite book inside one of those little wooden boxes.

Editor’s Note: If you know of a Little Free Library we haven’t mentioned or would like more information, contact The Ledger at editor@thecbledger.com or at 478-298-3728 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.