ARTS & CULTURE
KANSAN.COM
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
A "little library" at the intersection of Sunnyside Avenue and Indiana Street
Little Free Libraries find a home in Lawrence
At 907 Murrow Court sits a doll-sized, houselike structure with two white doors and a brown roof in the front yard of Gary Webber and Phyllis Farrar's home.
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The small house is known as a Little Free Library and contains about 30 books. The books inside are free for anyone to take, which goes along with the motto, "Take a book, leave a book."
The stewards of the little free library, Webber and Farrar, built the little house in May
after she had seen them while traveling and then around Lawrence.
Webber and Farrar are both from Kansas. Farrar attended the University in 1967 and graduated with her bachelor's degree in 1971. She now works as a world language consultant for the Kansas Department of Education. Webber graduated from the University with his bachelor's in 1973 and went on to teach in the chemistry department at the University.
The little free library allows anyone to pick up a book for free, read it and then return it to either the same location or
another Little Free Library.
"There is something attractive and elephant-like about a little house perched on the side of the street," Farrar said.
According to Littlefreelibrary.org, the free mini libraries help "to promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide and to build a sense of community as we share skills, creativity and wisdom across generations."
There are now 25,000 little free libraries around the world, according to littlefreelibrary.org. There are nine listed little free libraries in Lawrence.
Closer to home, Farrar and Webber said they hope their little free library encourages reading and neighborliness.
"It's fun to watch and see and we try to pay attention to when somebody stops there to see what they are doing." Farar said.
Farrar said when she sees someone putting books in the little library, she can't resist the urge to look.
Webber said that when they first built it, they filled it with books from their own shelves, but when they need to, they will go to the Dusty Bookshelf or a yard sale to buy books for the little library.
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"It's interesting because the way I consume books. I want a particular author and you can't do that with a little free library," Webber said.
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Webber said that he has been reading books that he would have never picked up at the library and that it's a different way to read that broadens horizons.
Webber and Farrar said they way they read has changed since they built their little library.
Farrar has also been reading more in her free time.
"I have given myself permission on a weekend to grab a book from the little free library and read it before it's gone," Farrar said.
"I feel like there is an element of trust to have a little free library. You are welcome to take this." Farrar said.
As for their favorite part about having a little free library. Webber said he likes the
Webber and Farrar said they don't see any negatives regarding their little library, though people have voiced their concern that it could be an avenue for vandalism.
"I think it's general but I think we need to curate it a little and make sure it's appropriate. I don't think I want something horribly violent," Webber said.
"That is part of curating and making sure that it doesn't become a dead collection that no one wants to use," Webber said.
"And I trust you won't throw them into the street," Webber added.
when picking out books, they know they have to consider what goes in the little library and they want to keep it "PG."
December.
Farrar said that if she buys something for the little library, she tries to make it a quality book — inside and out.
Webber and Farrar want to make sure that the books in their little free library are being read, and if books have been in there since May, Webber said that they need to think about removing them come
Farrar said when she puts books out for people to consume, she doesn't want them to pick up a shabby book.
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"I think most of us know someone or have been a part of an experience that has touched upon domestic violence, violence at home, or dating violence and this play touches on those issues." Rivas said. "I hope that the play gives the audience the opportunity to think about and examine those issues.
Villasante said she hopes audiences gain a sense of empowerment, awareness, and hope.
Though the play deals with traumatic and heavy ideas, the cast will lighten the mood with musical numbers intermittently. Rivas hopes the audiences sees how a perfect relationship can change in a heartbeat and that it doesn't matter who a person is or where they come from.
"Be whatever it is, we all have something that we are struggling with and we all lose control over our own lives at some point or another," Villasante said. "This is a story about how
Johanna managed to survive and take control of her own life after this series of devastating events that could have ended her life in many ways but they didn't"
"It needs to create awareness that relationships can go to a toxic place really quick if the signs are not detected in the right moment and they aren't discussed like they should be," Villasante said.
Villasante said the play needs to inspire people and empower them.
Rivas said he does not plan on taking the show anywhere else on his own, but hopes that other people will ask for a copy and take it other places.
The cast members are also going to the Topeka Women's correctional facility to perform a reading. Rivas hopes this gives them the opportunity to gauge their response on the play.
The show starts on Friday, Oct. 16 and runs through the 25. On Oct. 24, Rachel Dissell will host a talk-back after the show with a representative from the Willow Domestic Violence Center.
— Edited by Maddie Farber
looks of it. Farrar, on the other hand, likes seeing the human behavior, and not only do others benefit from it, but she does as well.
"It was about the second time I grabbed a book, I thought this wasn't the intent of putting it up, but I suddenly have permission to read again," Farrar said.
Edited by Amber Vandegrift
out of her life, and what she wants to do for other people," Villasante said.
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