2 LI Boys Launch Free Community Library: 'We Just Want Everyone To Love Reading'

MELVILLE, NY — Two Melville brothers are writing a new chapter together.

Ethan and Jackson Levenstien, who are in eighth grade and sixth grade, respectively, have launched a free outdoor library for the community, their mother, Janet, said.

The boys are "diligently working" to address the lack of access to books for children whose families are financially struggling, Janet said.

The Little Lev Library, located on the grounds of Temple Beth Torah, operates with the same guiding principles as the Little Free Library non-profit organization, which has a mission to "inspire a love of reading, build community, and ensure access to books for everyone," Janet said.

Children and adults can stop by the library at any time, browse the selection, and take home any book they would like. There are no forms, fees, or due dates and one does not need to be a member of the temple. There is also a bin for book donations inside the Sharing Table right next to the library.

The Levenstien family actively participates in community service together. Their most recent volunteer work at Mercy Soup Kitchen sparked their desire to launch a free outdoor library in the community.

While sorting canned goods, the Levenstiens realized that if families struggle to afford basic essentials like food, then they likely cannot buy books for their children, either, Janet said. With an abundance of books at home, Ethan and Jackson wanted to share them with the goal of making books available to kids who do not have them. The Levenstien boys, who love to read, hope to ignite a passion for literature in other children, their mother said.

"Raising Ethan and Jackson to give back was absolutely a conscious decision," Janet told Patch. "Growing up in an impoverished area of Brooklyn, I did not have the luxury of owning books and relied heavily on the public library and The Reading is Fundamental Program to fuel my love of reading. Those resources shaped my childhood, so it was important to instill that same appreciation for philanthropy from a very young age."

Ethan and Jackson have been doing charity work since they were 4 and 6 years old, which includes raising money for pediatric cancer research, raising money for first responders during the coronavirus pandemic, and working with several underprivileged populations, Janet said.

Ethan currently participates in the Teen Program at Temple Beth Torah and went on a mission trip this November to Atlanta, Georgia, to work with the homeless and disadvantaged youth.

"Our most recent volunteer work at Mercy Soup Kitchen sparked their desire to launch a free library in the community," Janet said. "It is incredibly rewarding to see Ethan and Jackson channel their values of generosity and compassion instilled at an early age into the Little Lev Library."

Ethan and Jackson created the Little Lev Library after submitting their idea to Kindness Grows Here, a not-for-profit organization that fosters kindness in kids and spreads kindness in communities. They were the recipients of the competitive 2024 Kids Kindness Grant.

The library is welcome to anyone and its name holds a special meaning: "Lev," in addition to being short for the family's last name, means "heart" in Hebrew.

"It fills our hearts when we read and share books with others," Janet said.

The boys kicked off the grand opening with a successful book drive, collecting more than 2,000 donations from the community to start off their new library.

"My brother and I are really lucky that we have so many books!" Ethan said. "Now that we read them all, we want to share the books with kids who don't have as much as we do."

As vice president of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) at West Hollow Middle School, Ethan enlisted the support of his fellow members in the Little Lev's Library's initiative to promote literacy for all children.

"My husband and I could not be more proud of our sons for their vision and dedication to the Little Lev Library," Janet said. "The idea grew from their firsthand experiences volunteering and observing the need for better access to books, and they worked so hard to bring it to life. Winning the grant is an incredible accomplishment, but what makes us the proudest is their determination to create something that helps others and promotes the joy of reading for everyone in our community."

While "book swaps" are welcome, the goal of the Little Lev Library is to make books available to children who have limited access to them at home, Janet said. The books do not need to be returned to the library.

"Because of our generous community who has shared books with us, we currently have a large surplus of donations and are looking for children or organizations who are in need of books," Janet said. "We recently donated 600 books to the Gerald Ryan Outreach Center."

Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly honored Ethan and Jackson for their hard work with certificates of recognition at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, highlighting the impact of their efforts on the community.

With such a large amount of donations received, Ethan and Jackson donated 600 children's books to the Gerald Ryan Outreach Center in Wyandanch. Their work is still not done.

"We just want everyone to love reading as much as we do!" Jackson said.

In addition to regularly organizing the library to ensure it remains a welcoming, well-kept space for families, Ethan and Jackson maintain an Instagram account, @Little_Lev_Library, to spark community interest and engage young readers.

Janet said the Levenstien family wanted to express its "heartfelt gratitude" to the community for donating thousands of books.

"Your kindness and generosity have made it possible for us to create a resource that will inspire a love of reading and learning for years to come," Janet said.