Book sharing boxes, which invite readers to take a book or leave a book, are popping up throughout the area, including the Owen J. Roberts School District, home of the Yoder Book Nook.

Located at 87 Hill Church Road, Spring City, the book sharing box was the idea of Elysia Yoder, a student at French Creek Elementary School. "It was installed in the winter of 2023 as Elysia's ninth birthday present," said Elysia's mom, Amanda. "It was what she wanted. She wanted to share and trade books."

The Yoder Book Nook contains books for both children and adults. The family has established a Facebook page to promote the library at http://www.facebook.com/YBNSpringCity, where it lists books available in the library. Readers are also invited to share what they are reading on the Facebook page.

Elysia and her sister, Katie, who is a student at East Vincent Elementary School, also enjoy checking out Little Free Libraries (LFLs) in the area, including the Stoney Run Farms LFL at 206 Parkview Blvd., Spring City, and the Ellis Woods Park LFL, which is located in front of the park playground at 855 Ellis Woods Road, Pottstown.

"Elysia is a member of Brownie Girl Scout Troop 4219," Amanda said. "We are hoping to start fundraising and building more (book sharing boxes) for other areas, but for now, Elysia enjoys checking the library to see if there's anything new."

Other local book sharing boxes that are registered with the LFL organization include the following: American Legion Post 537, 4499 N. Twin Valley Road, Morgantown; the Crow's Nest Preserve, 201 Piersol Road, Elverson, which can be found while hiking the trail; the Pellegrino LFL at the West Nantmeal Township Recreation Area, 455 N. Manor Road, Elverson; and Ellyn Honey's Litle Free Library, 3226 Morgantown Road, Mohnton. More information about that LFL can be found at http://www.facebook.com/EllynHoneysLFL99929.

French Creek State Park, 843 Park Road, Elverson; Warwick County Park, 191 County Park Road, Pottstown; and Historic Poole Forge, 1940 Main St., Narvon, also offer book sharing boxes. The one at Poole Forge is maintained by the Friends of the Honey Brook Community Library.

According to http://www.littlefreelibrary.org, the first LFL was built in 2009 in Wisconsin by Todd Bol, who created a book sharing box to look like a one-room schoolhouse in memory of his mother, who was a teacher and who loved to read. There are now more than 150,000 registered LFLs around the world offering free books to all. For more information and a complete listing of libraries, visit the aforementioned website.