Today the Town of Zionsville installed a train-themed Little Free Library in the outdoor plaza just off the Big-4 Rail Trail. In conjunction with this installation, Mayor Emily Styron officially proclaimed the week of August 10 – 14, 2020 as Little Free Library Week in the Town of Zionsville.
Local residents Terry McCain and Mike Howenstein built the library in their home workshop. This library is part of their Reading Railroad collection of Little Free Libraries that they have built and installed in local communities around Boone County. This newest library, a Zionsville Interurban train car Little Free Library, is a nod to Zionsville’s past Interurban Railroad.
Other Little Free Libraries in the Reading Railroad collection consists of a Boilermaker Special train engine located at a preschool in Lebanon, two boxcars located at The Caring Center in Lebanon, a Polar Express passenger car located in Zionsville, a red caboose located in Zionsville and a Kings Cross/Platform 9 and 3/4 train station located in Thorntown, with more Reading Railroad Little Free Libraries planned.
Mayor Emily Styron placed one of the first books in the Little Free Library, “Run for Something: A Real-Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself” by Amanda Litman.
“Building and installing Little Free Libraries is a small way to make a big impact,” said Mayor Emily Styron. “Free, accessible books is key to an engaged community and the Town of Zionsville is excited to support this effort at Town Hall.”
Town Hall’s new Zionsville Interurban Little Free Library is the largest McCain and Howenstein have built so far and will be stocked with a variety of books for children and adults.
“We love designing and building the Reading Railroad themed Little Free Libraries and we hope that the Zionsville Interurban Little Free Library will help foster sharing books in our Zionsville community,” said Terry McCain and Mike Howenstein.
The Zionsville Interurban Library can be found on the Little Free Library World Map and is charter number 99174.