SOUTHERN INDIANA — A community literacy project using retired newspaper racks will kick-off Saturday in New Albany at the annual Monarch Celebration.
The News and Tribune, the Arts Council of Southern Indiana and naming sponsor Schmitt Furniture are launching an initiative to repurpose newspaper distribution boxes into Little Free Library locations that will be placed throughout neighborhoods and downtowns in Clark and Floyd counties.
All 24 boxes will be designed and/or created by local artists, schools and community associations, as well as other organizations, to improve the aesthetics of the community and encourage literacy and art in Southern Indiana. Potential creators will submit a design based on parameters set by the Arts Council. Each participant will be provided with a stipend, box and guidelines for the creation, as well as a site for the work.
The public will be able to take a book and leave a book through this program. Items can be dropped off at the Arts Council, 820 E. Market St., New Albany, and the News and Tribune’s offices at 221 Spring St., Jeffersonville, and 318 Pearl St., New Albany.
“This project will involve the community in an upcycling event that is unique in nature and designed to promote and encourage literacy throughout Southern Indiana,” said Coltin Hanson, single copy circulation manager at the News and Tribune. “Reimagining the boxes to create a project that will benefit residents of all ages is an ideal use for items that otherwise would have ended up on a scrap heap.
“Newspapers are champions of literacy, and this project emphasizes that mission.”
The newsrack project will have a booth at the Monarch Celebration, which will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 18, on East Market Street in front of the Arts Council of Southern Indiana between Eighth and Ninth streets.
“It is wonderful to work with a young person like Coltin,” said Arts Council Executive Director Julie Schweitzer, adding that Schmitt Furniture has been an important supporter of the council. “He has vision and is willing to pitch in and do the work it takes to create a project like this one.
“This is going to be a wonderful project for the whole community.”