Founder and Green Trails resident Heather Schomburg said the library "looks like a large bird house," and can house from 60-75 books at a time. The library is open 24 hours a day to the public and serves as a site for patrons to borrow and trade books.
"The concept is not 'you can only come if you have a book in your hand,'" she said. "It's open, free and based on the honor system. The hope is at some time you would come back [to the library] and add a book."
Schomberg held a book drive to stock the library and said she received about 300 books. An avid reader and mother to four boys, ages 5-13, she said book donations included children's book series such as "Captain Underpants" by Dav Pilkey and "Legos" as well as adult books such as "For the Love" by Jenn Hatmaker and "Still Alice" by Lisa Genova.
"About 80 percent are children's books," she said.
The Green Trails Little Library joins the national Little Free Library nonprofit's movement along with other Katy neighborhood libraries in Cinco Ranch, Firethorne, Oak Park Trails and Pine Mills Ranch. Library locations can be found on the website www.littlefreelibrary.org.
Schomburg said she discovered the website after seeing the concept on several Pinterest pages, and soon after she contacted her homeowner's association. The HOA donated money for the structure, which she purchased through the nonprofit.
More than a place to borrow a book, Schomburg said her Little Free Library serves as a meeting place for neighbors and the community.
"There's just so much negativity in our world right now, and it's just a good way for neighbors to come together," she said. "It makes my heart happy."
