The Little Library at the Rec
A library at the Belle Fourche Rec Center? How did that come about? In December of 2019, Melanie Anderson, Cora Brown, and Connie Parker, the Reading Interventionists at South Park Elementary School in Belle Fourche, applied for a grant from Black Hills Reads/United Way. The specific goals in applying for this grant were to get books into the hands of the children in the community and to promote a life-long love of books and reading. Shortly after applying, the team was notified by Kayla Klein, Black Hills Reads Director, that they had received a grant in the amount of $1000.00. Since the Rec Center was able to locate and purchase a bookshelf, the whole $1000.00 was spent on books! Thank you Tessa Anderson-Voyles and Nate Velander for all the help you have given on this project!
The Rec Center was chosen as the location for the library since many students spend time there after school and on the weekends. The Little Library will operate on an honor system. Students may take a book to read and enjoy at the Rec Center or at home. When finished, books are to be returned to the bookshelf at the Rec Center. We ask that students take care of the books and return them in the same condition they were borrowed in. There is no cost involved.
This collaboration between the Belle Fourche School District, the City of Belle Fourche, and Black Hills Reads/United Way is a great example of working together to promote literacy in our area! We are excited to share that the Little Library is now open after a delay due to Covid concerns.