Little Libraries Coming to a WyCo/ KCK Neighborhood Near You!

Little Libraries Coming to a WyCo/ KCK Neighborhood Near You!

Published on August 22, 2025

Free Books. Bright Futures. One Neighborhood at a Time.

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/ KCK Community Development is excited to announce the launch of the Readers to Leaders Neighborhood Library Program-a new initiative bringing free, high-quality books directly into neighborhoods to support children in kindergarten through sixth grade, and anyone in our community looking to strengthen their reading skills.

"We are excited to launch the Little Free Library project in Kansas City, Kansas. This new initiative not only celebrates the joy, adventure, and discovery to be found in books, it acknowledges reading proficiency as the engine of sustainable economic development," said Community Development Director Kay Sharp.

The Little Free Library project was made available from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. All books will be FREE for community members. Stay tuned for a complete map of where all of the Little Free Libraries will be installed throughout Wyandotte County/ KCK in the very near future. Please plan to join us next week for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first installed library.

What It Is:

Across multiple neighborhoods, we're setting up easy-to-access little libraries filled with books specially chosen for:

• Young readers (K-6) learning to read, explore, and grow
• Parents, caregivers, and educators looking for age-appropriate materials
• Teens and adults working to build or improve literacy skills

Each library is free to use and open 24/7. Take a book, leave a book-love a book! It's that simple!

Where to Find Them:

Little Readers Libraries are located in key community spots-parks, schools, apartment complexes, and community centers. Look for the brightly colored book houses filled with carefully selected stories, chapter books, early readers, and activity books.

Our Mission:

To foster a lifelong love of reading, bridge literacy gaps, and ensure that every child and every learner has access to the books they need-right in their own neighborhood.

• Free and open to all - take a book, share a book, no checkouts or due dates.
• Stocked with high-quality, engaging reading materials aligned with grade-level learning.
• Located in convenient, family-friendly neighborhood spots so that access is easy and local.

How You Can Help:

• Spread the word - Tell your friends and neighbors!
• Become a steward - Volunteer to help us keep a library tidy and well-stocked.

Together, we can turn small boxes into big opportunities.

Reading is for everyone. Let's build stronger readers-and stronger communities-one book at a time.

If you have any questions regarding the Little Free Library project, please contact the Community Development Department at 913-573-5100.

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