Justice Building To Get A Little Free Courthouse Library

While waiting for a court hearing or meeting on the second floor of the Kosciusko County Justice Building, the public will soon have the opportunity to find and read books.
And if the adults or children enjoy the book they find, they’ll be able to take it home with them.
In presenting the idea of a Little Free Courthouse Library to the Kosciusko County Commissioners on Tuesday, Superior Court I Judge Karin McGrath said, “I’m excited to tell you about an idea that is cooking over at the Justice Building to put in a Little Free Courthouse Library. It’s not our original idea. This is an initiative across the state of Indiana from the Court of Appeals, as well as the Indiana Supreme Court, to house these Little Libraries inside of courthouses.”
She said the idea was particularly brought to their attention and moved forward when Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Kosciusko County Executive Director Erin Rowland Jones had a staff member attend a training at which it was discussed how the libraries were “popping up all over.” The staff member brought the idea back to the county and said a Little Library might be something they’d want to consider.
“So, of course, we listened, with the help of Tony Garza, who currently is actively involved throughout the county with building, maintaining, supplying books for other Little Free Libraries ... in different places,” McGrath said.
The Little Free Courthouse Library will be housed on the second floor. She said there is no cost to the county “whatsoever,” and someone will actually donate the bookcase to house the books. Multiple people will supply the books, maintain its appearance and make sure it’s not a hazard to people coming and going.
McGrath estimated there’s about 40 other Little Libraries in courthouses in the state of Indiana. “It’s been very well received elsewhere, so we’d like to do that here,” she said.
Commissioner Bob Conley said during the Covid-19 pandemic, that started in 2020, toys in his barbershop for kids to play with while they were waiting for a haircut were removed.
“My concern is, if you bring these books that kids can look at and read while they’re there, and leave them there or they pick them up and take them with them?” he asked.
McGrath said either, and the books can be for kids and/or adults.
“Especially, we have a lot of adults that sit around and wait and they no longer have their phones with them. Super helpful to have the ability to sit and peruse something. Maybe some magazines will be there as well. People are free to take them, take a book, take it home, particularly kid’s books,” McGrath responded. “If families don’t have the availability of a whole lot of books, we’d love for them to just take it with them. If somebody wants to just peruse it while they’re there, that’s fine, too. They can put it back on the shelf. Generally speaking, the idea is take a book with you and read it, read it to your children.”
Cell phones are not permitted on the second floor of the Justice Building.
Sheriff Jim Smith said the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office had one in their lobby for a while. It’s currently under repairs.
“I will say that while it was there, it was actively being used. It is a nice gesture. It is an opportunity for people who may not have a means to have a book, and I love the concept of read a book, take a book. And, firsthand, we saw that it was being utilized, and it’s a nice opportunity for some of those who don’t have any other book,” Smith stated.
The commissioners approved the Little Free Courthouse Library unanimously.