Nine Baltimore County Schools Win 'Read in Color' Grants For Little Free Libraries

BALTIMORE COUNTY - Nine Baltimore County public schools and one community association have been selected to receive miniature libraries courtesy of the "Read in Color" initiative from the Little Free Library organization.

Little Free Libraries are free book exchanges located in communities across the country. Designed as small wooden boxes, these libraries operate on a "take a book, share a book" basis, allowing anyone to borrow and contribute books.

The nine schools and community association will soon receive their own Little Free Libraries, along with hundreds of books that focus on diverse perspectives, social justice, and representation of marginalized communities.

"We couldn't be more ecstatic to have been selected as one of three global ambassadors for the Read in Color initiative by the Little Free Library organization," said Dr. Heather Wooldridge, the foundation's associate director and steward of seven Little Free Libraries throughout the region.

The grant recipients for the 2023-2024 cycle are:

• Battle Grove Elementary School
• Catonsville High School
• Highfields Homeowners Association (serving the Catonsville Community)
• Holabird STEM Middle School
• Martin Boulevard Elementary School
• Meadowood Education Center
• Oakleigh Elementary School
• Owings Mills High School
• Southwest Academy Magnet School
• The Chatsworth School

Awardees will receive the physical library and a unique charter number, a Read in Color launch packet, a starter collection of diverse books, and a $500 budget to select additional titles.

"We serve the 22nd largest school system in the nation with more than 111,000 students, nearly 10,000 teachers, and 176 schools, centers, and programs," Phelps said. "Being selected for this cohort directly aligns with our Books for Bins campaign and will provide yet another opportunity to build students' home libraries and enhance teachers' classroom libraries," said Deborah Phelps, executive director of The Baltimore County Education Foundation.