Library brings neighbors together

By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com

Previous coverage:
* Grand Opening set for Saturday

PINE LAKES — What if Dale and Susan Furr installed the Little Free Library, built by Rob McCullough, and no one came?

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com Pine Lakes resident Beth Ray brings three and takes a couple books from the Little Free Library on Fairway Drive established by Dale and Susan Furr.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Pine Lakes resident Beth Ray brings three and takes a couple books from the Little Free Library on Fairway Drive established by Dale and Susan Furr.

That appeared to be exactly what was to happen at about 10:05 a.m. Saturday, only five minutes after the official start of the grand opening of the Pine Lakes couple’s Little Free Library at their Fairway Drive home north of Rockingham. The library stand was full, with more than four dozen books ranging in topics from religion to children’s books, from self-help to James Herriott.

And no one showed up.

But in the South, being on time is early and being a few minutes late is right on time. First neighbor Sherri Kendall appeared from next door with daughters Peyton, 13, and Savanna, 11. Then Beth Ray showed up. Then, seemingly, everyone else.

“This is great,” said Ray, who established a similar venture at her beach house for those who might have forgotten to bring a read for the day in the sand.

Ray was truly in the spirit of the “take a book, leave a book” approach. She came clutching three paperbacks and left with about that money.

There’s no due date. There’s no overdue fines. There never will be.

And to top it off, Ray had never met the Kendall family.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com Savanna, left, and big sister Peyton, right, watch as mom Sherri Kendall flips through Shel Silverstein's "Where the Sidewalk Ends."

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Savanna, left, and big sister Peyton, right, watch as mom Sherri Kendall flips through Shel Silverstein’s “Where the Sidewalk Ends.”

“That’s what it’s about,” said Susan Furr of the Little Free Library established in by the side of her driveway. “Community.”

There was Will Abrams, who finished up his run before stopping by for a book — and maybe some water, lemonade, cookies or crackers that were a part of the Grand Opening celebration.

And then came Jim Graham and his wife from across the road. They’d wanted to spruce up their yard a bit by trimming the hedges before the sun became too strong.

Then came a young man that Susan Furr recognized as a former student. Furr, a retired schoolteacher, taught at L.J. Bell Elementary, Richmond Primary and Ellerbe Middle schools.

Turns out the Little Free Library would be a bit hit after all.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com The bench was rarely used in the first hour of the Grand Opening of the Little Free Library on Fairway Drive in the Pine Lakes subdivision, as neighbors and readers were too busy browsing the many books available by Dale and Susan Furr.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
The bench was rarely used in the first hour of the Grand Opening of the Little Free Library on Fairway Drive in the Pine Lakes subdivision, as neighbors and readers were too busy browsing the many books available by Dale and Susan Furr.

 

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