By Associated Press - Friday, May 17, 2019

SAVOY, Ill. (AP) - Ash trees that once shaded Savoy, Illinois, are being turned into “little free libraries.”

The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports the project resulted from Mayor Joan Dykstra’s interest in promoting literacy and the public works department’s skill with the remnants of trees decimated by the invasive emerald ash borer.

The theme of what former teacher Dykstra calls “LFLs” is “take a book, return a book, share a book.” Volumes will be stashed in LFLs at the municipal center, the city recreation center, and Colbert, Jones, Smith Prairie Fields, and Burwash parks.



A Colbert Park ribbon-cutting Saturday will feature family activities and book giveaways.

Dykstra asked public works operations superintendent Jesse Stephens if his staff could build one during down time. They produced six.

Savoy is 140 miles (225 kilometers) south of Chicago.

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