FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA – Pierpont Community & Technical College’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society Chapter, Alpha Tau Pi, recently completed its college project by installing a Little Free Library at Pierpont’s Advanced Technology Center in Fairmont that will benefit both Pierpont students and the local community.

Little Free Library began in 2012 with the idea of bringing communities together through a love of reading. “Our mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers and expanding book access for all,” states the Little Free Library website.

The Little Free Library is designed as a small box with a glass door that holds donated books. Participants can take a book from the library or leave a book for others to enjoy. More than 42 million books are shared annually through the organization.

Although you may order a building kit from the organization’s website, Pierpont PTK students opted to design and build their own. Drafting/Design Engineering Technology student Nathan Stewart created PTK’s Little Free Library from donated materials.

“This was an excellent learning experience for me,” said Stewart. “After my first design didn’t work out, I had to go back to the drawing board to find the right solution.”

“We’re so proud to add this Little Free Library to the ATC campus,” said Natalie Sypolt, PTK co-advisor and associate professor of English. “We’ve created something that we hope will last for a long time and provide enjoyment for both students and the community.”

In addition to exchanging reading material for enjoyment, PTK hopes students will take advantage of the Little Free Library to exchange textbooks. “Exchanging textbooks via the Little Free Library would be beneficial for all of our students,” said Jennifer Ellison, PTK co-advisor and associate professor of mathematics at Pierpont. “Our hope is that this can lower the financial obligations for attending college.”

Those who are interested in participating by taking or leaving a book can visit Pierpont’s Advanced Technology Center at 500 Galliher Drive in Fairmont. To learn more about the Little Free Library program, visit littlefreelibrary.org.