By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
A Yukon Girl Scout wants local youth to stop by Kimbell Park – not to play or exercise, but to find a great book to read.
Emma Adkison, a member of Girl Scout Troop 269, has designed, built and installed a new “Little Free Library” at the park for her Girl Scout Silver Award project. The process began in January.
Kimbell Park, 525 S 7th, is a frequent destination because of its tennis/pickleball courts, playground, basketball goal, fitness area, butterfly garden, pool, and story trail.
Emma’s colorful Little Free Library is fully stocked with books for young Yukon residents’ reading pleasure.
“It took quite a bit of time – about 50 hours of work,” Emma said.
A Yukon High School freshman, Emma has been in Girl Scouts for about five years. She is the daughter of Yukon’s Brent and Lauren Adkison.
Yukon’s new Little Free Library is for those children who may not have access to a library, she explained.
“They can go and pick out a book,” Emma said.
“I absolutely love reading. I like to read mystery books and graphic novels. And ‘The Outsiders’ is my favorite.”
Mother Lauren Adkison described what this Girl Scout service project entailed.
“We purchased the wood, we cut all the wood ourselves and found a design that we like,” she said. “We picked out the paint colors and bought some paint.”
Emma then helped build the new Little Free Library.
The Girl Scout painted it, installed a post in the ground and attached the top to the post.
Finally, Emma placed books inside.
She asked for people to donate books that will fill the Little Free Library at Kimbell Park.
“We’ll switch them out over time so there’s a different selection,” her mother pointed out.
The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest that a Girl Scout cadette can achieve. Emma is now a senior in Girl Scouts.
There are several other Little Free Libraries across Yukon.
The idea is for people to come pick out books to read, and then replace those they take with other books – to encourage more reading.
“Some people don’t do that, so we have others just in case,” Lauren Adkison said.
Emma and her mom thanked Yukon Librarian Sara Schieman and Yukon Parks & Recreation Director Ryan McClure for their guidance with this project.
“I also want to thank both of my parents for helping me getting this installed,” Emma quickly added.
