One day, about three years ago, three friends had an idea: creating a little library for their little school. On a random Great Commission day, we asked our teacher, Mrs. Schulze, if we could dedicate a small, cozy corner in our classroom for “The Library.” She gave us permission to have some library time and to create our own TSL — “The Secret Library!”

We started off moving a couple of bookshelves, which created a small cove of shelves and furniture. Even though it has been rearranged over the years, it continues to be the place to laugh and read. We have added lights, mats, seats, chairs, crafts and supplies. There have been many trips to the 99 cents store buying pencil cups, stamps and all kinds of things. We run a fun library and a great hangout spot to read whatever genre we are enjoying at the time! This past year, we read Narnia: The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, as a class. Everyone looked forward to reading that happy story altogether in TSL. It is so fun to spend breaks there hanging out or straightening up. We have had many happy times laughing and making jokes in the little library. I hope to see you there!

Next, we made rules like fines, and how much time people had to return their books. We created different bracelets for the different seasons and church holidays. At one point, we even had a read aloud time! It’s a really wonderful experience to have a place that we, the kids, get to manage. I think that TSL makes reading more interesting for the librarians and book borrowers. It’s fun to get to check out a book and bring it home. It’s also exciting to pick out and recommend books for others and check them out.

This year, every week, on Fridays, we rent books to the little ones and they come back for another book next time! I hope that the library continues to be a fun place for all of the Great Commission students to come. Today, friends still run it, have ideas, and will always have a little library in their little school. Come check out a book here at Great Commission.

Here is the Brooklyn Public Library near us that we use as inspiration:

https://www.bklynlibrary.org/locations/canarsie