BOOKS FOR CHILDREN — Anthony Desany, who is in the Sycamore Student Leadership Program, stocks the shelves of the Little Library, an addition to the Sycamore Youth Center as part of a partnership with the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — It’s not big, expensive or flashy but a new outdoor “addition” to the Sycamore Youth Center marks another chapter in how the nonprofit offers a positive story spin on the lives of area youth at risk.

The Little Library constitutes a partnership between the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County and the Sycamore Youth Center, making access to books and reading an easy take-and-go proposition for children.

And it’s a goal of center Director Bobbyjon Bauman’s fulfilled.

“The little library gives children an opportunity 24/7 to pick out a book they like and take it home with them to read or have it read to them,” Bauman explained of the outdoor library he had envisioned for three years.

Children will be able to take and leave things from the shelves — all in an effort to increase access to books. Adults are welcome to stock the shelves of the little library with gently used books.

“We’re just trying to increase literacy within Jefferson County, and it has been a dream of mine for more than three years to get one of these little libraries at the Sycamore Youth Center,” Bauman said.

“It was something (former volunteer) Paula Stevens and I spoke about bringing to the center, and we have had a couple people over the years say they would make one for the center, but it never happened until now,” he said.

Its presence and operation are a win-win.

“It’s taking what we do in the library and offering it to the rest of the community,” explained Sarita Asawa, community outreach director for the library system.

“Little free libraries are great because they’re open 24/7, the kids can take the books home, you can take some and leave some. It’s a great community effort to increase access to children’s books,” she said.

Local artist Maria Perez designed the little free library featuring paintings from popular children’s books, including “The Little Prince,” “Where the Wild Things Are” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”

Questions about the little library can be directed to Bauman by a call or text to (740) 409-4986.

Having the outdoor library in place is important to Bauman, who explained its potential value.

“I read books to my children when they were young, and my parents read them to me as well, and I have noticed the importance of how well a child does in school with how well they are able to read,” Bauman said.

“We have had an excellent response so far as we have had a number of individuals and groups reach out about donating or have donated books,” Bauman said, adding that, “We probably have 200 books to give away in storage so far.”

For those unfamiliar with how an outdoor library works, Bauman offered insight on what’s not a conventional library, for example, involving checking out a book.

“You are welcome to bring them back, but if a child does decide to keep the book, that is fine with us,” Bauman said. “The books are not checked out, and the library is always open, so the books are not tracked like a conventional library does.”

The Little Library is a “kids-only library, and we are looking for approximately ages 5-15 since that is the age of almost all of the kids who attend the center, but of course any child is welcome to take a book,” Bauman added, noting he is thankful for the addition as well as ongoing response to the center.

That includes the free after-school classes it offers.

“We have had our largest turnout of kids ever with 133 on a Monday, and we average 65 kids after school every day and including our Saturday program around 350 a week,” Bauman said. “We have 85 volunteers who serve at Sycamore each week at 51 classes. We had more than 500 at the Valley’s Got Talent this year and have provided more than 10,000 meals to children every Friday this year at Sycamore and East Garfield and at nine sites through our mobile food pantry during the summer,” Bauman said in reflecting on 2021.

“It has been a great year, and it seems like the Lord’s hand is upon Sycamore and wants to see growth for the sake of the future of the children of the Ohio Valley.”

Some Christmas outreaches are on the December agenda for the Sycamore Youth Center with the center presenting “SyFest” and a “Nativity Play” on Friday.

“We are having an open house for the community at 5 p.m. followed by a showcase event of singers and dancers at 6 p.m. and at 7 p.m. our drama program will present its nativity play they have been practicing since the start of October,” Bauman said.

The open house at 5 p.m. with walk-in classes for the whole family will include games, arts and crafts, cooking, martial arts, math competition and woodburning with the 6 p.m. showcase performances in the sanctuary including students performing dance, song and instrumental pieces they have been working on this semester. The “Birth of Jesus” play by drama class students at 7 p.m. will be followed by gifts for children and refreshments.

Next will be the free Sycamore Mobile Christmas party on Dec. 10.

“We are heading to the north end, south end and the hilltops to have a mobile Christmas party for children in kindergarten through 12, providing free presents, hot chocolate and a time of cookie decorating and art projects,” Bauman said. Santa will make an appearance at each stop.

The schedule is 4 p.m. at the green space on Maryland Avenue; 5 p.m. at the Elmer White family units at the North End; and 6 p.m. at the Earl Rogers Plaza in the South End.

A “Christmas Fun Day” will be held at the center on Dec. 16 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will include a live performance by Lynzee Ensell, who performed at the recent Valley’s Got Talent and was the overall winner, performing in the dance category. There will be free gifts, pictures with Santa, cookie decorating and drawings.