Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont is the site of a new public book exchange, part of the Little Free Library movement. The international movement encourages literacy and community-building through free book exchanges, known as Little Free Libraries. Visitors may pick up and drop off books at any location, completely free of charge.
When Susan Taylor-Schran, Museum Shop and Marketing Manager at Belmont, heard about the movement, she knew it would be a fit for the historic landmark, given the Melchers’ lifelong love of books.
Local woodworker Ken Smith built the wooden structure, located near the entrance of Belmont, and incorporated design elements from Belmont’s studio.
“The idea of placing a Little Free Library at Belmont is in keeping with the charitable works of Gari and Corinne Melchers, whose concern for the citizens of Falmouth and surrounding areas is still remembered by many of our elderly citizens,” said Taylor-Schran.
For more information about the Little Free Library movement, visit http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/.
Gari Melchers Home and Studio is a 28-acre estate and former residence of the artist Gari Melchers and his wife Corinne. The property, which is operated by the University of Mary Washington, is both a Virginia Historic Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. Located at 224 Washington St. in Falmouth, Va., a quarter mile west of the intersection of U.S. 1 and U.S. 17, it is open daily with an admission charge. The museum also serves as the official Stafford County Visitor Center. For directions and other information, call (540) 654-1015 or visit the museum website at http://garimelchers.umw.edu.
