The newest public "building" in Branford opened for business on April 22 – a "Little Free Library" outside of Branford Public School's central office at 1111 Main Street.

The eye-catching little library is stocked with books to share and is already attracting plenty of interest thanks to its appealing design and colorful embellishments. The library's exterior is brightened by wooden cutouts shaped and painted to resemble a certain cat's striped hat, red fish, blue fish and other artwork inspired by famed children's author Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor "Ted" Geisel.

The Little Free Library came to town thanks an idea developed and implemented by Branford High School (BHS) Interact Club, said club advisor Gina Lucibello.  When one of the club's members suggested it earlier in the school year, Lucibello said she knew the project would be a winning one for the club and the community.

"As an English teacher, I know literacy is the key to growing thinkers," said Lucibello.

Interact Clubs are a community service program of Rotary International. The clubs are designed to help young people develop leadership skills and learn about the meaning of the Rotary's motto "Service Above Self." BHS Interact is connected to Branford Rotary Club.

When it came time to build the beautiful little library "building," BHS Interact teamed with other students at the school. The A-frame, house-shaped structure was built by BHS tech teacher John Limone's wood-working class. Limone installed the structure at a user-friendly hieght.

Lucibello credits all of the students involved in this project with making it a success, including club presidents Olivia Kallert and Alexandra Hernandez, who met with Branford first selectman Jamie Cosgrove to receive approval for placing the Little Free Library on town property. Supplies for the project were donated by Branford Building Supplies, Inc.

On Sunday, April 22, many of the students involved gathered with Lucibello and Limone at the site to celebrate the Little Free Library's grand opening by unveiling the structure with a Little Free Library commemorative plaque above the door. The plaque also notes the library was established in 2018 by BHS Interact Club and includes a prompt for bypassers to "Take a Book, Share a Book."

Little Free Library book exchanges like this one have popped up in neighborhoods and community gathering points around the country, and the world, since the program was established in 2009 by non-profit Little Free Library (https://littlefreelibrary.org)  The goal is to increase access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds.

Paperbacks currently populating the BHS Interact Club's library invite readers of many levels and interests. Borrowing a book is as easy as opening the door and taking one from the library's two shelves. Readers can return the book they've borrowed, or leave a new one in it's place.  The current inventory of books is overseen by Interact members. The club has also been offered assistance from non-profit Branford Early Childhood Collaborative.

Lucibello said the intent is to keep BHS Interact students connected with overseeing the Free Little Library for as long it continues to serve the community, which will be, "...as long as the structure holds up and people are reading; which I hope is forever!"