Nakyyia Douglas ’23, ’25M, a graduate assistant for Student Engagement who is completing her master’s degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), partnered with Facilities Management to install two Little Free Libraries on Arcadia’s campus: one at Easton Pond and one in between Landman Library and the Dining Complex. 

Douglas’s goal with the Little Free Libraries was to create a space for students who need support. She created these spaces so students and faculty can have a safe space inside the realm of a book.

“Reading has always been a passion of mine,” she said. “It is one thing that is accessible to everyone. Not everyone can travel, but you can travel the world through pages. I want to be able to spread that throughout our students at Arcadia, and I want to make sure that there’s a way that they have a little bit of free happiness.”

These Little Free Libraries are meant to foster connections and promote more communication on campus between students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds.

“We have seen a great uptake of students dealing with mental illness and having a lot of stress, so I thought, ‘Why not create spaces on campus where they can come and relax?’” Douglas said. “It gives us a way to connect with each other on campus because sometimes, you don’t always have a way to reach out to the person next to you, and a book can do that.”

Douglas asks that people who are donating a book leave a note inside the cover for the next person to read it.

“If someone opens a book and they see a note, it’s a way to help one another in times where they might need a little pick-me-up–not just through a book, but also through words,” expressed Director of Student Engagement Christine Storch.

Douglas hosted a “Blind Date With a Book” event with Student Engagement, and after seeing the reactions from students, she decided to create Little Free Libraries for students to trade and borrow books.

“Growing up, I didn’t have access to things like this, so to see the initiative in Nakyyia to create this for our campus, she’s creating a legacy,” remarked Dean of Students and Vice President of Campus Life Dr. Donovan McCargo. “Being able to see her blossom has been incredible.”

The Cheltenham Library had a table at the event, providing students with library cards and additional information about the library. According to Douglas, this opens up room for more resources and books for students, in addition to the Landman Library.

“I’m really happy to be able to leave my mark on campus and give students a way to feel a little more at home through a book,” Douglas said.