K1 Britannia Foundation with the help of volunteers have built and assembled four mini-libraries that are currently located at the Emilio Wilson Park, John Larmonie Center in Philipsburg, and St. Peters at the Rupert Maynard Community Center – the fourth library is to be placed in the Belvedere Community. The inspiration behind the project was the temporary closure of the St. Maarten Jubilee Library, and the need to facilitate learning and leisurely reading because of easy access to reading materials.
The libraries were built and installed over the course of 4 days, during SXM DOET, by 17 different volunteers including Jake and Stephanie Bonds of Bonds Construction who lead the project, K1/National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) carpentry students who were able to put their learnt skills into practice, 4 UTS staff, and many others who came to assist and share their skills.

The Little Libraries Project Leaders Chiaira Bowers and Tanvi Goklani chose the above areas because it covers large and key community areas and places where families and youth gather and reside.

Connie Francis-Gumbs, Director of Sxm Youth Council mentioned, “Having the little library at the Rupert Maynard Community Center is an encouragement for the children to read. The little library will always have new books we can share with them outside of our own library and it’s a great way for them to get into reading – which is a difficult thing, unfortunately. ”

Please visit any location, take a book and leave your personal books for someone else to enjoy!

The project was funded by SXM DOET