Jul 13, 2016 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – Greene County Library System needs book donations to stock poolside carts at Greene County’s swimming pools.

For the past three years, the libraries have partnered with Greene County Parks and Recreation to provide free books for people who visit Mon View Pool in Greensboro, Carmichaels Pool at Wana B Park and the Alpha Aquatics Center near Waynesburg.

“It started when the library system had overstocked books and asked if there were places or facilities where we could put books where people could take them,” county Parks and Recreation Manager Pam Blaker said. “We’ve been doing this for a few years and I think they’re just now starting to deplete their supply of books.”

That’s why they’re in need of book donations. Blaker said in the last couple years, they distributed between 2,000 and 3,000 books through the “take a book, leave a book” program. They decided on the pools as the site for the book carts to “keep people and kids interested in reading throughout the summer.”

“A lot of people sit on the lounge chairs and read while they work on their tan,” she said. “I saw an older lady today walking out to her car with about 10 books under her arm.”

Jill Peth, outreach coordinator for Greene County Library System, said the children’s books are the most popular.

“The kids get really excited when they can take a book home with them,” she said. “The hope is that when you take a book, the next time you’re at the pool you bring one of your own to replenish the carts and keep a fresh variety of titles.”

The cart positioned near the entrance to Alpha Aquatics still had a decent selection of books Wednesday afternoon.

“I really enjoy coming over and looking at what they have here,” said Andrew Elsenheimer, a supervisor for the Greene County Summer Day Camp while watching some of the campers swim Wednesday. “I’m a big reader.”

Donated books can be dropped off at the pool locations or at the Bowlby and Flenniken libraries.