Several community and business leaders gathered for the formal announcement on Thursday.

St. Louis Promise Zone

Library Boxes Debut at Metro Stations

Riders Can Pick Up Free Magazines, Novels & Children’s Books

Partner Websites — St. Louis Promise Zone | St. Louis County | St. Louis County Library | St. Louis Metro Transit | Bi-State Development

St. Louis Metro Transit commuters will now be able to pick up magazines, novels and children’s books to read while they ride MetroLink, MetroBus or Metro Call-A-Ride.  No library card is required, there is no cost and there are no due dates or fines.  Borrowers are asked to return the reading materials to the community library boxes when they are finished so other transit riders can continue to enjoy them.

News Coverage on KMOV-TV | News Coverage on KTVI-TV | Article from STL Public Radio

The program, which was announced on Thursday at the North County Transit Center, features community library boxes at four local transit locations.  The library boxes support the St. Louis County Library system’s Recycled Reads program, which gives surplus books an opportunity to get into the hands of people in the community.  The goal is to strengthen educational outcomes through increased literacy rates.

Partnership CEO Sheila Sweeney (second from left) joined other community and business leaders from the region on Thursday.

Representatives from the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, St. Louis Promise Zone, St. Louis County, St. Louis County Library system, St. Louis Metro Transit and Bi-State Development were all on hand for the announcement.

“We’re happy to partner with St. Louis County Library system, St. Louis Metro Transit and Bi-State Development on this great initiative for the St. Louis region,” Partnership CEO Sheila Sweeney said.  “This program has the potential to strengthen educational outcomes through increased literacy rates.  It will provide our community with more access to books and have a positive impact on readership for all ages.”

The Promise Zone, which includes parts of North City and North County, partners with local leaders to give communities proven tools to rebuild and put people back to work.  The federal program helps high-poverty urban, rural and tribal communities increase economic activity, improve educational outcomes, reduce serious and violent crime, invest in transformative development and improve health and wellness.

Here is a list of Library Box locations:

1 Dellwood Recreation Center 10266 W Florissant Ave, St. Louis, MO 63136
2 North County Transit Center 3140 Pershall Rd, St. Louis, MO 63136
3 EarthDance Farms 233 S. Dade Avenue Ferguson, MO 63135
4 Lang-Royce Park  
5 Lion’s Park Lucas and Hunt Rd & Blewett Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63136
6 Spanish Lake Community Center/ Twillman House 11840 Bellefontaine Road, Spanish Lake, MO 63138
7 Larimore and Trampe Community Garden- Spanish Lake 901 Trampe Ave
8 Nesbit-Newton Park 1150 Nesbit Dr, St. Louis, MO 63136
9 North Hanley Transit Station 4398 Hanley Road, St. Louis MO 63121
10 Wellston Transit Station 6402 Plymouth Avenue, Wellston, Missouri 63133
11 Rock Road Transit Station 7019 St. Charles Rock Road, Pagedale, Missouri 63133
12 Starbucks, Ferguson 10776 W. Florissant Ave, Ferguson MO 63135
13 Grace Chapel Lutheran School 10015 Lance Dr, St. Louis, MO 63137

Several community boxes were painted during Promise Zone Literacy Day.