JASPER, Tenn. - Marion County will get another Little Free Library soon thanks to the collaborative efforts of some willing volunteers.
At the Jasper Board of Mayor and Aldermen's March meeting, resident June Grimes asked city leaders for permission to install the kiosk at Jasper Park.
The board unanimously approved.
Little Free Libraries were created as a free book exchange, and communities are encouraged to construct kiosks that offer a unique touch.
Anyone can use the book exchanges to take a book or to bring a book to donate.
There are more than 50,000 registered Little Free Libraries across all 50 states and 70 countries.
Grimes said she and some local students have coordinated with Jasper library officials to get the idea off the ground.
"As you have this stand - this library - you kind of feed it," she said. "Although a lot of times, people will feed it, and they'll just leave a book. They can take one, too."
Jasper's Little Free Library will be placed near one of the park's parking lots and in a lighted area for safety.
Grimes said she already found a volunteer to build the stand, and Lowe's Home Improvement in nearby Kimball, Tenn., will donate the materials needed.
Local students will decorate the stand, which will be licensed and tagged so it will appear on an online national map of Little Free Library locations.
"And the most important thing to the town of Jasper is it's free of charge," Mayor Paul Evans said.
Once a new sidewalk is completed this summer near Jasper Elementary School, he said, another Little Free Library could be constructed along that route.
Grimes said she hopes the free library will "catch on" so volunteers can create more kiosks around town.
"It's been a great way for people to improve literacy, encourage literacy, and to get people to share books and read books," Grimes said.
In other business, the board voted unanimously to accept a low bid of $91,535 from RW Contractors in Chattanooga to purchase and install an auger screening system for the town's sewer treatment plant.
"We've applied for a grant for the last three years to try to get this done and make some improvements at the sewer plant," Evans said. "We haven't gotten it either time."
The board also voted unanimously to spend $40,000 it had budgeted for this year to build a playground at Jasper Park.
The money was originally set aside as the matching funds for a 50/50 grant that would have allowed the town to build an $80,000 playground for half the price, but city leaders weren't able to acquire that grant.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.