Gayhart receives Little Free Library’s Award for Outstanding Achievement

Teen dreamed of starting a Little Free Library and now stewards multiple libraries

The Little Free Library (LFL) nonprofit organization was pleased to present Evelyn Gayhart of Everett, Mass., with the 2024 Todd H. Bol Award for Outstanding Achievement. This award honors extraordinary individuals who embody LFL’s mission to build community, inspire readers and expand book access for all. “It is a privilege to recognize Evelyn Gayhart as one of this year’s winners of the Todd H. Bol Award for Outstanding Achievement,” said LFL Executive Director Greig Metzger. “Her volunteer efforts exemplify the vision of the late founder of Little Free Library, Todd Bol, to engage communities and enrich lives through the power of shared books.”

The 17-year-old first had dreams of starting a Little Free Library book-sharing box when she was 12. Evelyn immediately started planning, getting city approvals, fundraising, gathering book donations and designing and building a little library with her grandfather. Despite delays due to covid, her inaugural library opened on housing authority property across from Wehner Park in 2021. She has since established four additional libraries and has three more planned, thanks to a Little Free Library Partner Expansion grant.

“I originally started it as a project for the Girl Scouts Silver Award but ended up wanting to expand beyond just one,” Evelyn said. “The response I’ve been getting has made me really happy. I get to make sure more people have the opportunity to get and read books. It’s been an extremely rewarding experience.”

Read more about this year’s winners and see their photos at LittleFreeLibrary.org/todd-bol-awards

Learn about Little Free Library Week – May 12-18 – at LittleFreeLibrary.org/lfl-week