The Baxter County Early Literacy Project has launched its 13th Little Free Library at McCabe Park, located near the ponds. The ribbon-cutting event, observed by the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce, celebrated the ongoing effort to promote literacy among local children.
Painted in bright yellow, the Little Free Libraries are stationed across Baxter County to encourage children to take a book, leave a book, and cultivate a love for reading. The initiative is part of the larger Early Literacy Project spearheaded by the Baxter County Library in partnership with area schools.
In addition to the free library program, the project also administers the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Baxter County, which has delivered over 75,000 free books to children in the area since its inception in 2019. Another program, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, supports early literacy by encouraging families to complete daily reading milestones with their young children.
Funding for these efforts is provided by the Baxter County Library Foundation, which relies on donations to cover the local costs of the programs.
Residents seeking to locate a nearby Little Free Library or enroll their children in the Imagination Library can contact the Early Literacy Project at (870) 580-0979 or via email at earlyliteracy@baxlib.org.