Arts in Bartlett unveiled the first Little Free Library in Bartlett on Monday, Aug. 29, at the Bartlett Center for the Arts, 215 S. Main St., aided by special guests Bartlett Village President Kevin Wallace, chairman of the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce Lee Price, president of the Friends of the Bartlett Library Steve Henricksen and State Sen. Tom Cullerton.

The Little Free Library stands outside for easy access at any time. All are welcome to “take a book, return a book.” There are about 40,000 Little Free Libraries are found in all 50 states and more than 70 countries worldwide with 16 million books exchanged each year.

This Little Free Library is a project of Arts in Bartlett’s 2016 summer interns Andrew Viveros, Madeline Derango, Alyson Morse and Jordan Reniva and was made possible by a Youth Employment grant from the Illinois Arts Council with funds it received from the National Endowment of the Arts. Home Depot donated materials.

The design is arts-related and was created by intern Madeline Derango inspired by the famous painting “Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh.

“I chose that design because it is instantly recognizable; it’s one the most famous paintings in the world,” Derango said.

The Friends of the Bartlett Public Library donated the first books available for exchange. Additional donations are welcome; please bring your books to the Arts Center from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays and from noon-6 p.m. Fridays. Hard-bound children’s books, the classics and books about the arts (music, art, theater) are especially needed.

Arts in Bartlett is an all-volunteer nonprofit arts council founded in 2002, with the mission of “building community through the arts.” For information, go to www.artsinbartlett.org or call (630) 372-4152.

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