GENTRY, AR — A new chapter in community reading is beginning at Gentry Intermediate School.
The school has received a grant from the Arkansas State Library to install a Little Free Library in front of the campus, creating a space where students and families can easily access books outside of school hours.
The project was led by school librarian Angie Evans, whose efforts helped bring the idea to life. School officials praised her dedication to promoting literacy and making reading both accessible and enjoyable for students.
The Little Free Library will be open to the entire Gentry community, allowing families to stop by at any time to pick up age-appropriate books, discover new stories, and share reading experiences together.
Educators say initiatives like this play an important role in early childhood development. Regular reading helps build vocabulary, improve comprehension, and spark imagination—skills that contribute to long-term academic success. Even small daily reading habits can have a lasting impact on a child’s growth and confidence.
The new installation is part of the global Little Free Library movement, which encourages communities to “take a book, share a book” in an effort to expand access to literature and inspire a love of reading.
Community members are encouraged to visit the site, take a book, and begin their next reading adventure.