Book Garden In Sapulpa Offers Place To Exchange Books, Plants

A post-doctoral instructor at the University Tulsa is doing something good for kids in Sapulpa by combining a little library with a love of gardening.

On the corner of Boyd and Fairview Avenue in Sapulpa, you will find little boxes stocked with books.

Dr. Lily McCully is a TU post-doctoral fellow and instructor in the English and composition department.

Her inspiration is her former foster children, who told her last year they missed having a neighborhood library.

"I've really just wanted to do anything that I thought could kind of increase access, and we've had a lot of support from the local library in Sapulpa to help bring this here and try and encourage kids to grab a book and read more,” McCully said.

So, she started researching and found out Sapulpa is considered a "book desert."

"Meaning that there's a low percentage of owned books to children in the area,” McCully said.

McCully received for the Indigenous Library Program Grant and received books in the mail and both little libraries for adults and kids.

Anyone in the neighborhood or in town can visit and bring a book to share, then take one home to read.

A passion to share the love runs in the family.

McCully's brother created a Little Free Garden Swap, where neighbors can exchange extra seeds, produce, or plants.

"Part of the purpose of all of this is that we just want to make sure that if you need something to read, or you need something to eat, or you need something to grow. You can grab it here,” McCully said.

A place where you can take what you need and give back what you can, all in the form of a library.