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St. Cloud’s first fire/rescue themed Little Free Library has gone up at 10th Street and Minnesota Avenue. Three more are already in the works; it’s creator is asking for a little community help. SUBMITTED PHOTO
St. Cloud has joined the Little Free Library movement, and thanks to a small group of local firefighters, it has a safety piece as well.
Little Free Libraries, a nationwide book-sharing movement to ensure all children have access to things to read, exist in towns everywhere. The concept is simple – children are encouraged to take books found inside they’d enjoy to read, and leave ones for others.
St. Cloud Fire Rescue Lt. David Miller has created the added level of public safety; he wants to leave “Fire Pals” fire safety and prevention literature in each box as well, so children can learn how to stay safe when tending to or working around a fire.
The idea came from a discussion with his wife Mikayla, who works for a Winter Park library and mentioned the little library box program.
“So I asked aloud, ‘What if we had kiosks in St. Cloud painted just like our fire stations?’” he said. All it took was one box to get created
All it took was one box to get created to get this story rolling. The first kiosk was donated by the Winter Park Library. Local tattoo artist Eric Frost, husband of St. Cloud Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Samantha Frost, painted it. It currently sits at the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and 10th Street.
There’s already community buyin. City Manager Bill Sturgeon is a big supporter from City Hall, Miller said, and the St. Cloud Rotary Club has agreed to purchase materials for the next three boxes, and the Osceola Library System has agreed to supply the first books for them. He just needs a little community help to turn a random idea into a city network of little libraries.
“What I am looking for is woodworkers and artists and painters,” Miller said. “I don’t want to overwork my local artist, and I want to keep it so it doesn’t cost the community a dime.” The next one is slated
The next one is slated to go to Cannery Park. Eric Frost has a concept to paint it with a theme from the board game Chutes ‘N Ladders. The city’s “Pink Heals” breast cancer awareness brand and the Fire Cadet programs are future themes Miller has in mind.
“We want each box to have its own identity for the community, then tie in the fire/safety aspect,” he said. “It’s moving pretty quickly for a local grassroots movement.
Miller has been posting the progress on the kiosks on a project Facebook page (facebook.com/FirePALS). Those who wish to help Miller in his efforts with building, painting or acquiring materials can email him at millerd1081@yahoo.com.
