LITeracy Trails & Little Free Libraries
LITeracy Trails
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LITeracy Trails (LIT = literature, information, and technology) offer an innovative, delightful way to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time. Since children learn to talk, read, and write through social experiences, these skills often develop in real-life settings through positive interactions with engaging materials. LITeracy stations bring reading, technology, and fitness activities to the forefront as people connect to the stories in their own ways!
Each trail consists of 18 individual stations that trace the storyline of different children’s books while also offering opportunities for exercise and further exploration. Featured books are changed on a quarterly basis.
Catawba County hosts LITeracy Trails at four local parks and historical attractions:
- Bakers Mountain Park (6680 Bakers Mountain Road, Hickory, NC 28602)
- Bunker Hill Covered Bridge (4160 US Hwy 70, Claremont, NC 28610)
- Murray's Mill Historic Site (1489 Murray's Mill Road, Catawba NC 28609)
- St. Stephens Park & Dog Park (2247 36th Ave NE, Hickory, NC 28601)
The LITeracy Trails were created through the efforts of the Catawba County Historical Association, Catawba County Parks, local Boy Scout groups, and Catawba County Leadership Academy.
View a map of the county's LITeracy Trails, Little Free Libraries, and Catawba County Library locations.
Little Free Libraries
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The Catawba County Library also helps maintain a variety of Little Free Library book exchanges throughout the county. The brightly decorated, freestanding units are filled with books for children and adults, and the materials are free for anyone interested. These “take a book, return a book” sharing boxes play an essential role in learning by providing 24/7 access to books and encouraging a love of reading!
Books may be replaced in the Little Free Libraries once they've been enjoyed, or residents may stock the Little Free Libraries with gently used materials they no longer need.
To learn more, check out the Little Free Library website. To find Little Free Libraries outside of Catawba County, click here.
Catawba County's Little Free Libraries are available at the following locations:
- Conover City Park (361 5th Ave SE, Conover, NC 28613)
- Catawba County Partnership for Children (738 4th St SW, Hickory, NC 28602)
- Centro Latino (2259 12th Ave NE, Hickory, NC 28601 – at St. Stephens Lutheran Church ELCA)
- Hickory Foundation YMCA (701 1st St NW, Hickory, NC 28601)
- Kiwanis Park – Zahra Baker Playground (805 6th St SE, Hickory, NC 28602)
- Maiden Municipal Park (207 E Klutz St, Maiden, NC 28650)
- Corner Table Soup Kitchen (122 N Main Ave, Newton, NC 28658)
- Private Home – at sidewalk (224 W 6th St, Newton, NC 28658)
- Southeastern Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum at the Newton Depot (1123 N Main Ave, Newton, NC 28658)
- Southside Park (1775 Southwest Blvd, Newton, NC 28658)
- Honey's IGA Grocery Store (9580 West NC Hwy 10, Vale, NC 28168)