By Haley Mitchell Godwin

A small outdoor library was recently placed just outside the playground gate at E.L. Turner Park by the Luverne Chapter of The Kiwanis Club.

The club hopes parents, grandparents, and others bringing children to play at the park will use the library when taking a break from playing. Inside the outdoor library box are a variety of books, as well as coloring books and crayons. 

Patsy Owens, with the Luverne Kiwanis Club, suggested the outdoor library to the club after seeing the boxes in various places. 

“While traveling, I have seen these little outdoor libraries here and there. During visits with my daughter in Charleston, I have noticed many of them, and I thought it would be a nice addition to Luverne,” Owens said. 

Everything inside the box has been donated. The Kiwanis Club will rotate books as needed. (martinwater.com) If interested in donating books for the outdoor library, contact a Luverne Kiwanis Club member.

The playground at E.L. Turner Park opened in 2016 and was made possible by a grant obtained through the cooperation of Pepsi, other local businesses, community members, and the Luverne Kiwanis Club.