Residents visiting parks across Las Vegas may notice something new alongside playgrounds and walking paths. The City of Las Vegas Parks Division has installed eight Little Free Libraries throughout the city, making it easier for families and neighbors of all age groups to pick up a book while enjoying time outdoors.

The small book exchanges are designed to be simple and accessible. Visitors can take a book to read and leave one to share. With options for children, teens, and adults, the libraries help ensure that readers at every stage of life can find something to enjoy. Placing the libraries in parks allows people to access reading materials in spaces where they already spend time together. The new locations include Gallinas Riverwalk Park entrances on Independence Avenue and Raynolds Street, Hanna Park, Richard Padilla Soccer Park, Truder Park, El Creston Park, South Pacific Park, and Veterans Park.

The effort reflects a long history of literacy work in the community. City Councilor Barbara Casey said the idea connects to the work of the Literacy Council of Northeastern New Mexico. “This project really grows out of years of community commitment to literacy,” Casey said. “The Literacy Council was founded by people who believed every child should have access to books, and that belief has carried forward through so many dedicated volunteers over the years.”

The council was founded by Dorothy Maestas and Brown Bear. Volunteers including Elizabeth Ratzlaff, Cathy Kahn, Carol Winkel, Joann Martinez, Janet Remenyk, and Casey worked for years to provide free books to children through literacy fairs and community partnerships. Their efforts reached families across the area for more than two decades and helped build a strong culture of reading. Some of those early leaders, including Janet Remenyk and Brown Bear, have since passed, but their work continues to influence new efforts.

The idea to place a Little Free Library in Hanna Park came from Joann Martinez, a former librarian at Carnegie Library, who recognized the park as a popular spot for families with young children. “Hanna Park is a place where families and young children spend a lot of time,” Casey said. “It just made sense to have books there, something accessible and inviting that could become part of their everyday experience.”

Parks Manager Jeff Rudolph said the idea quickly expanded beyond a single location. “When I heard Councilor Casey bring up the idea at a Council meeting, it stuck with me right away,” Rudolph said. “If one park could benefit from a Little Free Library, why not add more? We already have a community that values reading and sharing books, so bringing that into our parks felt like a natural extension.”

The Parks Division coordinated the purchase and installation of the libraries, and what began as a single proposed location soon grew into a project spanning parks across the city. Little Free Libraries will continue to support literacy for all age groups while creating more opportunities for residents to share books and connect with one another in neighborhood parks.