DOWAGIAC — Saturday morning, Dowagiac City Manager Secretary Bobbie Jo Hartline and Patrick Hamilton Elementary School Principal Heather Nash stood on opposite sides of a redecorated newspaper box, each holding the end of a white tulle ribbon in their hands. As both pulled on the ends of the ribbon, the new nature of the box was revealed. It now housed dozens of books that could be accessed by anyone, anytime for free.

Saturday, Dowagiac unveiled five Free Little Library sites throughout the city. Free Little Library is an international movement, where municipalities can set up boxes so people can have 24/7 access to books to both borrow and return to the library site.

The current Dowagiac sites for the Free Little Library are at the police station, the Front Street Crossing Council on Aging, Patrick Hamilton Elementary School, City Hall and Russom Park, all of which will be maintained by volunteers. The books for the Free Little Libraries were Donated by the Dowagiac District Library and the Ladies Library Association. The newspaper boxes were donated by Leader Publications.

Nash spearheaded the effort to have a Free Little Library in Dowagiac, as she first saw the need for one in her students at Patrick Hamilton Elementary.

“There are so many times when my kids don’t have a way to get another book if they have finished one, and on Saturdays when the [district] library is closed, they can’t get a new book,” Nash said. “We wanted something that was risk free for them, where people could go to a new piece of literature or where people could donate literature at all hours.”

Though Nash originally only intended to place one Free Little Library in front of Patrick Hamilton Elementary School, the enthusiasm of Hartline and City Manager Kevin Anderson got the ball rolling on the project to get five libraries placed at once.

“It’s funny, because we had talked the Free Little Library program years ago, and we put it on our list of fun thing we should do,” Hartline recalled. “So, when Heather [Nash] came to us and said, ‘this is what I want to do. Can I have your support,’ we were like ‘heck yeah, we will help you with that.’ So, the police station and the COA and others jumped on board and we all helped in our own little ways.’”

According to Hartline, the libraries will carry a variety of books for all age groups, from young children to adult.

“There is something for everyone here,” she said. “When I read a book, I can smell what’s in the kitchen; I can see and feel the fabric in the couch. When I read a book, it takes me places. … I think everyone should have that opportunity.”

Both Hartline and Nash said they hoped the Free Little Library would promote literacy within the city and get people — both young and old alike — excited about reading.

“We talk a lot about being a city for the arts, but we aren’t really a city for literacy,” Nash said. “We want to be sure, that even when we have our artists and music, that we are encouraging reading as well.”

Nash and Hartline have high hopes for the success of the libraries, and already have plans to place more throughout the city.

“I think we are going to be seeing a lot more here,” Nash said. “I hope the libraries are always full. I hope people are always taking and people are always donating. I hope it makes a dialog about reading that we need in the community.”