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The Daily Signal
Young Boy Takes
On City Council…and Wins.
Jordan Richardson
July 14, 2014
Spencer Collins tells Leawood City Council he thinks little free
libraries 'are good for Leawood' (Photo: Katie Banks via Twitter)
Call it a victory for common sense.
City officials in Leawood, Kan., have reversed course after ordering a
9-year-old boy to tear down the little free library he built in his
front yard for Mother’s Day.
Late last Monday night, after Spencer Collins had appeared before the
Leawood City Council to advocate for permission to share his love of
reading books with his neighbors, the Council unanimously approved a
temporary measure that would allow the free little library to stand in
his yard.
The Council has proposed a more permanent solution to allow little free
libraries in Leawood. It will be taken up in October after a
public-comment period.
As we reported earlier, this issue began when the city’s codes
enforcement office sent a letter to Spencer and his family warning they
would face an official citation if the little library was not removed
from their front yard.
The story attracted national attention, and more than 31,000 people
expressed support for Spencer on his Facebook page. With media pressure
mounting, the city council was forced to address the publicity
nightmare it created.
Spencer addressed the city council to explain his position. “I think
free little libraries are good for Leawood, and I hope you will change
the code,” he said.
Fellow residents joined in. “Reading is a solitary endeavor, but this
makes it about the community. It is about neighbors reaching out to
neighbors,” said Wyatt Townley, a city resident.
Ultimately, the Council agreed with Spencer and unanimously approved a
moratorium that exempts little libraries.
Not everyone was happy, though.
“Why do we pay taxes for libraries and have those boxes on the street?”
asked one attendee. Another member claimed the little libraries were
eyesores and argued, “You will destroy
Leawood if you destroy our codes and bylaws.”
Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed, and the city is on course to amend
the ordinance to permanently allow small libraries in the front yards
of Leawood residents. The moratorium approved last Monday is only a
temporary solution, but it is a step in the right direction.
Ray Bradbury famously stated, “There are worse crimes than burning
books. One of them is not reading them.” For those interested in
encouraging literacy and spreading the joy of reading, this was a
victory.
Read this and other stories with links at The Daily Signal
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