“Little Libraries” recently stationed at RFTA bus stops are so popular that the free-book program will continue indefinitely.
It’s not that people wouldn’t want to read more books, says Garfield County Library’s Stephanie Stocking, it’s just rough to work a trip to the library into an already-busy day.
“We know that one of the biggest barriers of getting people to go to the library is that so many people work in Aspen” says Stocking. “By the time they get home they are tired, they don't want to go to the library, or maybe the library is already closed”
The little libraries, present in New Castle, Glenwood Springs, and Carbondale, were meant to be a one-week installation as part of a bigger, month-long effort by the Library to connect with the community and encourage residents to sign up for library cards. However, the free check-out stations proved to be more popular than expected.
RFTA approved an extended stay for the libraries. Anyone may take a book and keep it as long as they want, no library card is needed and there are no late fees.
