The Little Library That Could
Book lovers at the small military chapel at Fort Alien in Puerto Rico were determined to encourage reading despite their size. Beginning with a few dozen books, mostly paperback, they began setting up a book table for the after-service fellowship periods. A simple paper and pencil checkout system was used to keep track of the books. As people began using them, donations of additional books and money began trickling in. Soon, two tables were needed, and only a portion of the books could be displayed each Sunday. "That way people didn't get tired of seeing the same old tides every week," says Linda Dottery. The displayed books were varied according to seasonal, Sunday school, and sermon emphases. Chaplain M. L. Trawick promoted the book table from the pulpit and in the bulletin and chapel newsletter. In addition, a knowledgeable person or two circulated around the tables recommending tides and giving brief comments on some of the books. Sunday school teachers recommended titles or took a few to their classrooms for checkout. "The closer we got the books to the people, the more successful we were in circulating them," Wanda Trawick comments. "Most people won't go out of their way to obtain a book." Her conclusion: "Taking the books to the people is more effective than inviting them to the books!"
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