As part of her Children at Risk course last spring, LilyBess Rollins, a senior elementary education major, outlined a little lending library service project. On September 2, 2020, she cut the ribbon on her project.
Rollins installed the free little library in her hometown of Lincolnton, North Carolina. She completed this project because she was passionate about free little libraries.
When COVID-19 moved classes to remote learning last spring, her project was put on the back burner. When her county’s school system decided to return as plan B, a hybrid plan which included in-person instruction, Rollins realized that it was important for her to put this up to serve as an easily accessible library.
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction’s directed electives courses include a service-learning project, which serves as an introduction to the place and use of service-learning within an educational setting.
“More than community service, this project is intended to model for students the potential for service to understand the power and responsibility of that role,” said Dr. Beth Campbell, chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and instructor of the course.
“Teachers across North Carolina serve as bridges between our state's communities and schools,” said Campbell. “Through this service learning project, our teacher education students begin to understand the importance and power of that role.”
“It is important for educators to participate in service learning projects because they bring so much joy to yourself and to the community,” added Rollins.
She continued, “This little library has served as a beacon of hope for me, I have seen people spread compassion, love, money, and books in just the short week that it has been up.”
“I chose Appalachian because it was close enough to home that I could go home and still see my dogs on the weekends, but I stayed at Appalachian because I felt supported there,” she said.
“I chose my major because I love kiddos! Children are so amazing, they share compassion and love that is unmatched,” she added. After graduation, Rollins plans to continue her education.
“I chose my major because I love kiddos! Children are so amazing, they share compassion and love that is unmatched,”
Now that her project had a ribbon-cutting, Rollins plans to continue to look after the little library. “I might also start working on a plant exchange,” she added.
LillyBess Rollins
