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LITTLE LIBRARIES GALORE: Eastside Hill Neighborhood’s Little Library Community
Eau Claire neighborhood has more than 20 Little Free Libraries
Kelly Carlson, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
The creator of the Eau Claire Eastside Hill Neighborhood’s dragon-themed Little Free Library, Deb Peterson, loves to gather materials for fun and inspiring sculptures. Often, she begins without knowing where each piece will end up.
Made from a water softener, a bicycle seat, football shoulder pads, a resin pumpkin, curtain tie-backs, a tomato cage, plenty of cat food can lids, paint, and a lot of imagination and hard work, the dragon was born. With special thanks to a few Menard’s employees, and to author Robin Hobb (Deb’s favorite science fiction writer and the dragon’s namesake), Robin is alive, flourishing, and made with lots of love.
“Some parents make (Robin) a destination for a walk with their little ones,” Peterson stated. “(During the pandemic), walking over to visit Robin served as a kind of entertainment for grownups too.”
Because they bring books to families who may not have access to the library or other reading resources while also promoting walking, community, and learning, the Eastside Hill is proud of having the most Little Free Libraries of any neighborhood in the area.
According to Steering Committee President Chad Rowekamp, the libraries have been part of their neighborhood since 2011. With love to all of the libraries in the area, it’s always wonderful when something extra special, like Robin, comes along to get everyone excited about books.
Here are all of the locations of all 24 little free libraries in the Eastside Hill neighborhood:
1602 Lyndale Ave.
1913 Lyndale Ave.
1418 Keith St.
1928 Ohm Ave.
1604 Laurel Ave.
Two little libraries at Flynn Elementary School
1523 Hoover Ave.
1322 Highland Ave.
1320 Badger Ave.
915 Huebsch Ave.
722 Summer St.
622 Culver St.
814 Dodge St.
702 Grand Ave.
1227 Fairway St.
1128 Barland St.
1415 Hogeboom Ave.
1516 Emery St.
1804 Woodland Ave.
1818 Emery St.
1704 Hogeboom Ave.
Immaculate Conception School (Sherwin Avenue entrance)
1916 Ohm Ave.
732 Chauncey St.
Keep up with the group on the Eastside Hill Neighborhood website. See the neighborhood's little library updates on this Facebook page.
