A little library at La Baleine on the Homer Spit is one of several around town, as seen here in July 2015. (Homer News file photo)

A little library at La Baleine on the Homer Spit is one of several around town, as seen here in July 2015. (Homer News file photo)

New little libraries up for discussion at Homer council meeting

If passed, five new little free libraries will be installed next spring at popular local spots.

New little libraries may be coming to popular spots in Homer next spring thanks to funding provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

An ordinance introduced during the Homer City Council on Nov. 8 meeting would accept and appropriate a $25,000 American Rescue Plan Act grant provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the Homer Public Library, which would be split between purchasing and installing five little libraries in Homer and upgrading the library’s Wi-Fi equipment.

Homer Public Library Director David Berry said, if approved, the libraries will provide 24/7 access to free books around town, which will be supplied by the library and can be restocked by community members who want to donate. The libraries will be installed at Mariner Park, the Fishing Hole, Karen Hornaday Park, Bishop’s Beach and WKFL Park.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The little libraries are weatherproof stands with shelves of free books available for anyone to pick up or drop off for others to choose from, Berry explained.

“We don’t expect to ever get them back; they are just books that have been donated for spreading the joy of reading to the community,” Berry said.

If adopted, Ordinance 21-67 would allocate $5,950 for the little libraries program to purchase the cabinets and additional books to stock the libraries with. The Homer Public Library received the grant, Berry said, to help fill the needs of the library that the pandemic has brought to light.

“The Institute of Museum and Library Services is passing out grants to individual libraries to basically respond to COVID and overhaul their services in light of what COVID has demonstrated to us,” Berry said. “One of the lessons that we learned during COVID is that there are quite a few people who basically depend on physical access to the building to be able to come in and read, and if they can’t have that, like when we had to close our doors, then we need another way to get materials into their hands.”

The idea was originally suggested by the City of Homer Parks and Recreation, so the library is partnering with the department to place five little libraries at local parks and campgrounds. The parks department will be responsible for maintaining upkeep of the libraries.

Berry said he hopes the libraries will be ordered in December and will be installed later next spring once the ground has thawed out enough to plant the posts for the libraries to be attached.

There are currently little libraries in front of the Homer Public Library and the Fritz Creek General Store.

In addition to the little libraries, the grant also provides more than $19,000 to upgrade the library’s Wi-Fi equipment and purchase 10 additional wireless hotspots, with a one-year data plan, for checkout.

The second hearing for Ordinance 21-67 will be Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. in the Cowles Council Chambers at City Hall.

Reach Sarah Knapp at sarah.knapp@homernews.com

More in News

President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia during a joint news conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. President Trump is pushing to end the war in Ukraine, but analysts say the Russian leader could turn a hastily-planned meeting to his advantage. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
Trump to meet Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage

Trump was expected to make what amounted to a day trip to Alaska to meet with Putin.

Civil Air Patrol Cadet 1st Lt. Hugh Traugott (right) works with Cadet Airman First Class Audrey Crocker (left) during a statewide training exercise on disaster response on Aug. 9-10, 2025, in Homer, Alaska.
Civil Air Patrol practices disaster response

Homer cadets and senior members were part of a statewide exercise last weekend.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly president, Peter Ribbens, speaks in an aside to District 8 representative and Vice President Kelly Cooper before the beginning of the Aug. 5, 2025, KPB Assembly meeting at the Porcupine Theater in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Voters to decide on borough sales tax cap increase

Assembly Ordinance 2025-14 aims to adjust the sales tax cap with inflation.

A voter fills out their ballot at the Kenai No. 2 Precinct in the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Few candidates have filed for upcoming election

The filing period for candidacy applications across all six electoral races closes at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 15.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD reverses some activity stipend cuts, raises fees

The district’s final budget adopted in July called for a halving of all activity stipends.

Joel Johnson, president of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation; Carrie Hourman, lead sustainability director for Dow Climate & Circularity; and Susan Sherman, executive director of the Marine Debris Foundation, sit for a panel at the Kenai River Sportfishing Association’s Kenai Classic Roundtable at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Annual Kenai Classic Roundtable to focus on Alaska king salmon

The event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20, in the Soldotna Field House.

Kenai City Hall is seen on a sunny Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai to inventory roads, streetlights

The projects will identify the condition of the respective city infrastructure and identify possible “major deficiencies,” officials said.

The Soldotna Field House is seen on a sunny Monday, March 31, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Grand opening for Soldotna Field House on Saturday

Though the field house will be opened this weekend, it will not open to general public operations for a couple more weeks.

A road closed sign stands at the Kenai River flats turnoff in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)
Bridge Access pullout closed for construction

Located on the west side of Bridge Access Road, the pullout provides access to the Kenai River and flats.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in