EAST LONGMEADOW –  In honor of her father who passed away two years ago, one East Longmeadow girl is doing her part in her neighborhood to make sure local children are reading.

Kate Powell, a fifth grader at Mapleshade Elementary School, came home one day, according to her mother Jane, and decided that she wanted to start her own “little free library.”

Little free libraries have been popping up in towns across the country in recent years. Generally, the little free libraries are free-standing, birdhouse-like structures that contain numerous books. People are encouraged to “check out” books and donate books to the little free libraries. Each library functions on the honor system.

Kate began by cleaning up an area in her front yard. She placed a table from her garage in the yard, and subsequently went through a box of her own books, puzzles and crafts that she no longer had use for and was done reading. These would be the first “donations” to the little free library.

From there, Jane said Kate went to local libraries and asked for book donations. When East Longmeadow Children’s Librarian Michele Lemire heard that Kate was going to be making her own little free library, Michele and her husband Mark built the library box themselves for Kate as a gift. Originally, Kate intended to purchase a box from the little free library website, however Jane stated when Michele saw how expensive the boxes were, she decided that she and Mark would build the box as their donation to Kate’s library.

 “It’s better than anything we could’ve ever imagined. Not only did Mark and Michele make this beautiful library box, but they came over and installed it,” Jane shared with Reminder Publishing. Michele and Mark also helped Kate make signs and hang them in the little free library space.

According to Jane, Kate started the little free library in honor of her father, Eric C. Powell, who passed away two years ago.

“She said she wanted to do this to honor her dad who gave her her love of reading. He started reading with Kate when she was just a baby and they read together every night,” Jane shared.

Kate has received book donations from several businesses in East Longmeadow and Hampden. Right now, she only has books for ages zero to middle school, however she is hoping to add a second box so she can put out adult books, many of which were books that belonged to her late father.

“She’s truly a remarkable young lady and she does spread her happiness and kindness wherever she goes,” Jane said of her daughter.

Jane and Kate hope that they will inspire others in the community to start their own little free library.

“There are several in Longmeadow, but we are the first one in East Longmeadow and we were hoping to encourage others,” Jane said. “It’s really a wonderful thing to bring the neighborhood and community together.”

For those who may be interested in donating books to Kate’s library, reach out to Jane at janep3333@yahoo.com.