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To Country Club East's Jane Johnson Hussar, it meant setting a good example for her grandchildren.
And when she sees people take books out of the new Little Free Library at Country Club East Park, she said she will feel proud.
On March 8, Johnson Hussar's 7-year-old grandson, Caden, was the first to select a book at a brief ceremony and ribbon cutting for the world's 177,617th Little Free Library.
Johnson Hussar's name is on a small metal plaque on the wooden library, along with its assigned number — 177,617. Johnson Hussar's 10-year-old granddaughter Savannah Hussar cut the ribbon while her family looked on.
"I wanted to show my grandchildren that it is important to be involved," said Johnson Hussar, who is a member of the Little Free Library Club of Lakewood Ranch. "I want them to love books their whole life.'
Johnson Hussar worked for the Pinellas County school system for 25 years, she is a mentor for Take Stock in Children, and she is a member of the Lakewood Ranch Women's Club.
"This will be a popular spot," Johnson Hussar said of the new library. "Parents and grandparents park here to pick up their kids (from Robert Willis Elementary School)."
She said the Little Free Library will have a nice assortment of books, including "something for everyone."
More than 70 books have been donated to the library in the last week alone and Johnson Hussar said she stores the overflow books in her garage. As the sponsor of the Little Free Library, she covered the cost of building the wooden structure and she will check on its contents on a regular basis.
"We're doing a really good thing for the community," she said.
The Little Free Library is the fourth built and maintained by the Little Free Library Club of Lakewood Ranch. The first opened in April 2023 at the Adventure Park in Greenbrook. It was lost when the pavilion burned July 5, 2023 due to youths mishandling fireworks.
"We are going to replace it and we are ready to roll," said Elizabeth Henderson, the president of the Little Free Library Club of Lakewood Ranch. "It was such a loss for the community because it was incredibly well-used. The new one is all built and it's in my garage."
The new pavilion is scheduled to open this summer and the library will be placed shortly after its opening.
The club's second library found a home at Bob Gardner Park in July 2023. Henderson said that one also has been very busy. A third was placed at James Patton Park. That one opened in October, 2023, four days before Henderson learned she had cancer.
After undergoing treatment and chemotherapy, Henderson was able to return to guiding the Little Free Library Club of Lakewood Ranch in October. She said she is now cancer free.
With her return, the club's activities have picked up again. A fifth Little Free Library is now planned at Waterside Park, near the children's play area.
"That one is going to be stunning," Henderson said. "Geoff O'Quinn is building it and it is going to be modeled after the buildings at Waterside."
No date has been set for the Waterside Little Free Library and Henderson said the club is seeking a sponsor for it with the hope of a Waterside business filling that role. She said sponsorship for construction of the library is about $400.
She said none of the Little Free Libraries would have been possible without the support of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch or Manatee County.
After the Waterside Little Free Library, the club will "keep an eye on growth" in Lakewood Ranch to see where to go next.
"If they create parks, we will continue," Henderson said of growth.
Although Lakewood Ranch has a 1-year-old $17.6 million county-built and maintained library, Henderson said the Little Free Libraries provide great access to books for the community.
"They are open 24-7 and you never know what will be in there," she said. "It's always a surprise and it fosters a sense of community. We are teaching the kids to have an enthusiasm for reading."
Braden Woods' Faust DeLazzer has built all the Little Free Libraries placed by the club so far. He donates his efforts.
"I was a school teacher for 47 years," he said. "It is a labor of love.
"This really is so important. Most of us in the club are educators."
Henderson said anyone wanting to join the club or donate books can reach out on Facebook or can send an email to [email protected].
