MARLBORO – Two youngsters in Marlboro have created a Little Free Library and welcome friends and neighbors to stop by to borrow a book.
Brothers Salvatore and Vincenzo Montecalvo, both 9, explained that a Little Free Library is a small metal or wooden container that offers free books to individuals who visit the library. The boys are the children of Dr. Michele Montecalvo and Mark Montecalvo Jr.
Salvatore and Vincenzo said books that are taken from the little library do not need to be returned. No card is needed and there is no cost to take a book. Visitors are welcome to leave a book or books in the little library, the boys said.
The library had its grand opening in June 2016 when Mayor Jonathan Hornik visited the Montecalvos’ home at 4 Markham Drive, off Millay Road. The boys said the town designated the day in honor of their little library with a proclamation.
Salvatore and Vincenzo said they had a “Star Wars Day” with the 501st Legion. They dressed as Imperial Gunners, an Imperial Navy Officer and as All-Terrain Scout-Transport pilots.
“It was awesome to have real life ‘Star Wars’ characters on our front lawn, at our library. We had a book read by the people from the 501st Legion. It was very cool,” they said.
The boys said they have visited 58 little libraries in the world, including ones in Canada and Italy.
“We have a Little Free Library because our mom read a book called ‘The Little Free Library Book’ by Margret Aldrich. We bought our Little Free Library for her birthday and she was very excited because it was a perfect gift. Our Little Free Library is No. 35325,” Salvatore and Vincenzo said.
According to the brothers, Todd Bold created the movement of the Little Free Library in 2009 to honor his mother, a former teacher who loved reading. He started a movement to share her love for reading with the world. In less than a decade, there are more than 60,000 registered little libraries worldwide.
“Take a book, leave a book” is the Little Free Library motto. For more information, visit Facebook, Montecalvo Little Free Library at www.facebook.com/LilFreeLibrary/ or www.littlefreelibrary.org