There’s a new librarian in town! At just 9 years old, Lily Murphy was inspired to start a little library for her Glens Falls neighborhood, and with a little help from her uncle in the form of a beautiful purple book box, the library is now open! We caught up with Lily to hear a bit more about the project - and the books - below!
Hi Lily! Tell us a bit about yourself!
I'm 9 years old and I go to Kensington Road School, and I'm in fourth grade. I live with my Mom, Step-mom, my sister and my dog and cat. I like to draw and read.
Every year I raise money through a lemonade stand and my birthday and donate it all to Cindy's Retreat in the Glens Falls Hospital Cancer Center. So far I've raised $2550 in three years. I do this because my Aunt Marcy died from breast cancer, and I was really close with her. Aunt Marcy used this foundation so I want to continue to help them.
We’d love to know - how did the idea for the library come about?
I used to live on a different street that had a little library and when we moved my Grammie told my Uncle Henry that I missed it, and he built one for me!
The library itself is beautiful! We’d love to hear more about the inspiration for the design and who helped to build it.
My uncle wanted to include a lot of really cool details, and I got to make a lot of the choices. There's books on the side and our entire family got to give him ideas for titles to include. My favorites are on there, like Smile and Charlotte's Web, which has been read together by our whole family. He was able to get an artist, Amy Forbes, to paint the book spines and they look awesome. He included a dragonfly because my Aunt really loved dragonflies, and he also made a hot air balloon because he knows I love them. Before he retired and started building things, my uncle was a librarian so he was really excited.
Tell us a bit about how the library works - can anyone stop by to borrow a book anytime? Do you have to leave a book if you take a book? Do people return the book when they are done?
Anyone can stop by anytime and take a book, you don't have to leave one to take one. People can keep the books that they take, I hope they enjoy them!
What types of books can neighbors expect to see in the library? Is this just for kids or all ages?
All ages can use the library. There's chapter books, picture books, and even reference books. I'm happy to include anything neighbors are interested in.
How do you plan to keep the library filled? Are you accepting book donations?
I will accept book donations. My sister and I have a lot of books we can donate and my uncle brought me many to start with. I also hope some people will bring books, when they pick out a book, to help keep it filled too.
Have you seen any neighbors stopping by the library already?
I have! I get excited to see people use the library. On my way to school today I saw a mom and son picking out a book, so that was cool. I've seen a lot of other people stop too.
Just curious - do you happen to know if there are any other little libraries in Glens Falls?
Yes! There was one by our old house, it's on Morton Street and it's orange.
I didn't know it before but there's actually a registry for little libraries, and you can find them all over! My library will be on the registry soon, and we'll get a plaque to hang on it in the mail with it's own charter number. You can find the map at littlefreelibrary.org.
[Editors Note: If you know of any other little libraries in Glens Falls, we’d love to know in the comments below!]
Lily’s Library
Find the library on Crandall Street between Coolidge and Horicon Avenue.
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