Riva Woman's Love of Books Leads to Free Library

Riva resident Mindy McConville’s goal in life is to one day own a bus full of books.

McConville grew up with her grandmother in North Carolina. Despite the  diminutive size of the house, it had a large library that she would get lost in as a little girl—cycling through book after book.

Her love of reading stayed with her to where it is now—one of the biggest passions in her life.

“I want to have a bus one day full of books that I take to kids in neighborhoods that don’t have access to books,” McConville said. “My biggest passion is bringing the love of reading to children.”

The Riva woman admitted she doesn’t have the resources to go out and buy a bus and fill it with books, but after stumbling upon a national organization called “The Little Free Library,” she found the next best thing.

With the help of her husband and the support of her three children, McConville created her own free library—a quaint wooden structure—that holds books for community members to take and exchange as they please. Her library officially opened in June on her front lawn, located at 579 Poplar Drive, Riva, MD.

The premise behind the free library is that people can come by, pick up any book inside the wooden box and return it whenever they’re done, free of charge, McConville said. Ideally residents would bring a book to the library before taking one as a means to keep the selection fully stocked.

“You can come grab a book, you don’t have to replace it, but it’s nice if you do, and enjoy. It’s really easy,” McConville said.

Identified nationally as “Little Free Library #1958,” McConville’s selection features books ranging from Thomas The Tank Engine novels to in-depth literary studies like Food Inc.  

With a lifelong passion devoted to literacy and bringing the joy of reading to others, McConville said the free library has gotten her completely “obsessed.”

“I look out at [the library] everyday. My kids go out to it, too, my teenager checks it a lot, too,” McConville said. “We always know when someone has swapped a book—it’s so cool.”

While the little wooden box rests on her lawn, McConville admits the free library isn’t exactly a bus full of books. But until she can take her love for reading out into the community herself, the local mother of three feels this is the next best thing.

To visit the free library or check out its available books, swing by in person or check out its Facebook page.