In an effort to encourage reading in the city, community members recently built a little library box in front of the Smithville Church of Christ where residents can take or drop off books to read.

Much like the little food exchange boxes around town, residents can pick up books to read free of charge or drop off books for others to enjoy at the library box.

Kelly Holt, a member of the Church of Christ, was on her shift at Dream Train Antiques when Chicagoan Ed Paulson, who was volunteering with planting trees at Buescher State Park, walked in the shop and a conversation sparked about their love of reading. Their talk led to the little free library concept, which Holt had read about years before.

Paulson offered his skills to build the library. With donated and repurposed barn materials, he built it to match the church and withstand Texas sun and rain before he headed back to Chicago.

"I’m an author myself," Paulson said. "I’m all for people reading books. I grew up as a kid reading brooks and I loved it. Anything I can do to promote reading books is great."

Church members helped dig the hole for the post and assisted in mounting the box that would serve as the book library.

"We’re excited for another way to be of service to the neighborhood," Holt said. "We want to encourage reading. I don’t think people do it enough."

The church encourages family-friendly, wholesome reading material, along with children’s books and family magazines, though it requests that no one use the library box as a "book dump" like other libraries have become around the county.

The library box is located near the church’s community garden. The 24-by-18-inch library can hold about 25 books at a time. There’s a clear door on the front of the box.

"I love the (free library box) concept of trading books in a neighborhood, and we hope the neighbors and other friends will take advantage of it," Holt said.

There aren’t any plans to construct library boxes at the other community gardens, but Holt said that if the opportunity to build more arose, she would take it up.