Lusk lends a library

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Nevada Daily Mail

Crestin Lusk and her family spent early Friday morning installing a new lending library in the city park in Walker.

"She's that kid who has to be told three times to put the book away and go to sleep," said Anna Lusk, Crestin's mother, "I am impressed she took this on as a project."

Crestin, 12, said she got the idea from a trip to Wisconsin last summer to visit family. A cousin had built and curates a lending library is his hometown. "I thought it was a good idea," Crestin said, "The goal is for kids to have summer access to books."

With a little help from her dad, Crestin measured and cut the wood, and drove in the screws to assemble the libraries. Her dad, Joe Lusk, said Crestin was surprised at how messy painting can be. Some of the family's chickens now have lovely light blue spots on them.

This is the second lending library that the Lusk's have built. The first is in Schell City near city hall and was installed last month. She said the first lending library took almost a month to finish, but the one for Walker only took about two weeks. "It was less work than I expected," said Crestin.

The Schell City location started with 19 books and at last count had 65 thanks to two generous donors. Crestin said one donor gave more than 100 books, many authored by Sharon Sala or Diana Palmer. Another generous donor contributed a number of books for young children. "I was surprised to see so many books donated," said Anna Walker.

"We noticed books coming back that have been borrowed," Anna Walker said, "I was afraid we would be feeding book in and never getting any in return." Crestin and her family are not alone in this endeavor. They have enlisted the help of Crystal Burch and Kathy Newman to help curate the lending library in Walker.

Novels are not the only things found in lending libraries. Crestin said that a number of gardening books and a jigsaw puzzle have also appeared in circulation. "The community seems to appreciate the effort," said Anna Lusk, "to see it going right is a good thing." Crestin said she thinks the lending libraries will be more appreciated in the smaller towns rather than in Nevada where people have easier access to the public library.

"I was surprised that the city agreed so easily," Crestin said. Crestin and her family attended the Walker board of aldermen meeting this past Monday evening to request permission to put the lending library in the park. They received overwhelming support from the board with Mayor Phil Martin saying, "I think it's fantastic."

Crestin, a fifth year 4-H veteran, chose the lending libraries as a Step Up to Leadership project. She also competes in rabbits and poultry, and arts and crafts. She is planning to attend the College of the Ozarks after high school. We asked Crestin who would maintain the libraries while she was at college and she turned and looked at her little sister, Brylee.

Crestin's parents have offered to share their experiences with anyone that may be considering a lending library for their community.

In addition to the lending libraries in Schell City and Walker, there is one near the Vernon County Health Department in Nevada.

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