Visitation Opens Little Free Library in Mendota Heights

Editor's note: This article was edited to correct the statement that this is the first Little Free Library in Mendota Heights. was the first organization in town to install such a library.

There’s a new destination in town for summer reading material.

installed a Little Free Library at the edge of the its campus last month. The library is available for the community to share.

While the campus hopes the “LFL” will become a center of community exchange and enrichment, its footprint takes up little more space than a mailbox.

“To read is to learn,” said Head of Schools Dawn Nichols in her statement at the ribbon-cutting. “One of the core strengths of Visitation School since its founding 139 years ago has been our strong emphasis on a love of literature. We want our students to love reading from a variety of sources and to share that love of the written word with others.”

Little Free Library was started in 2010 to help people install tiny libraries in their neighborhoods. With a local LFL, community members can pick up a book, donate a book and leave notes for other readers.

In addition to creating a tiny space of learning and imagination, the installation is also way to honor one of the school’s founders, St. Francis de Sales, who is the patron saint of writers.

Little Free Libraries have no fines and no hours of operation.

LFL founder, Todd Bol of Hudson, was present for the installation, as was Visitation's monastery superior Sr. Mary Denise Villaume, students of Visitation and Mayor Sandra Krebsbach.

The library is at the corner of Visitation Drive and Mendota Heights Drive, accessible from the bike trail. A map of all the Little Free Libraries is available online.

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