Floating Libraries Make Waves with Readers

By Jesslyn Denton

If just reading a book isn’t relaxing enough, you can now select a book while bobbing about in a lake or river. It sounds unnatural, since books and water don’t mix well, but there are currently Floating Libraries located in Minnesota and New York that have been testing the waters, so to speak, and are receiving tremendous attention for this new kind of library.

If you're wondering, yes, both Floating Libraries are actually circulating books! The first is the Lilac Museum Steamship, docked from September 6, 2014, through October 3, 2014, at Pier 25 on the Hudson River in New York City. This historical ship has been reconfigured for not only ample reading material but comfy lounge areas as well. There are books from private collections and material from under-represented authors, poets, and artists. The ship also features activities throughout the month to engage visitors, like DIY projects and cultural events. Visit their website.

The second Floating Library (see picture above) has been migrating around the lakes in Minnesota, starting on Cedar Lake at the end of August 2014, and is currently on Lake Winona, just until September 13. This library is entirely art-based. The ship itself was envisioned by artist Sarah Peters and designed by architect Molly Reichert. They wanted to create a way for people to interact with the lake while reading a good book. All of the books featured on this boat are also created by artists; the most popular book by far is one you can actually feed to the fish when you're done!

Now you can enjoy the last breath of summer outdoors – grab your kayak, canoe, speedboat, or innertube – without missing out on a good read.

[Photo credit on home page: Anna Brown for Untapped Cities. Photo credit above: Bookpatrol.net]

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