At a time when media literacy is under pressure and screens often win out over pages, Wittenberg sophomore Hannah Alexander is making it easier to fall back in love with books, one little library at a time.
An English major with a passion for storytelling, Alexander started the project with a simple goal: to bring books back into everyday life. “I want to spread the love of books during a trying time of media literacy being down,” she said. “I want to provide the community with something to spark their love for books.”
Inspired by the national Little Free Library movement, Alexander envisioned a network of book-sharing boxes—tiny wooden houses filled with books—scattered across campus. But what makes Wittenberg’s version unique is how deeply collaborative it’s become. With help from fellow students in the art department, they will paint each library as part of a creative collaboration. Alexander’s idea has quickly become a cross-campus effort. The colorful book boxes will soon be stationed at several key campus spots, including Sips (in Thomas Library), Hollenbeck 129, the Student Center, Koch Hall, and more.
The idea is simple: take a book, leave a book. No checkouts. No due dates. Just a rotating collection of stories for anyone who needs a break from the routine.
It’s no surprise that Alexander, who also leads Wittenberg’s Witt Lits book club, was the one to bring this idea to life. She sees reading as more than a hobby, it’s a way to connect, decompress, and think critically in a time when attention spans are shrinking, and misinformation is rising.
“Books give us space to slow down and think,” she explained. “And that’s something we all need right now. In a world that’s constantly demanding our attention, reading lets us reclaim a moment for ourselves.”
Whether you're looking to escape into fiction, brush up on a subject, or simply stumble upon something unexpected, these Little Free Libraries are ready to meet you where you are—with open doors and open pages.
So next time you're walking to class or waiting in line for coffee, look around. You might just discover your new favorite book—or at least be reminded of the quiet magic that can come from turning a page.
