Little Library, Big Community by Jerry

Little Library, Big Community by Jerry - March 2026 Scholarship Essay

To maintain a connection with my camp community, I have helped build a Free Little Library that I help maintain with my family. The building of this Little Library has built a strong and surprisingly fun bond within the community at our campground, where it is housed. Building and maintaining the structure, picking up donated books from multiple community connections and individuals, has helped me grow my social skills by meeting people that I would normally not have a connection with.

Sorting books to ensure they are appropriate and organized to target the appropriate age group has helped me learn to pay attention to the frequent guests we have who use the library. I check weekly to make sure the library is stocked and clean for the people who come by. I am proud to be a part of this community library, which I helped build with my family.

Making the experience in a community warm and welcoming is an important aspect of making a thriving, lasting community that welcomes people of all backgrounds to enjoy and engage in. This naturally makes the community involved and grows into a livable and vibrant community. This Little Library that I helped build is important to me because I get to see the positive effect it has in our campground, and it makes me feel good to know I helped make happen.

I have learned that something as small as an outside box with books in it can make a big impact on so many people by bringing so many people together by donating, reading, finding a common interest, and meeting people that you may not come in contact with otherwise.