First ‘Little Free Library’ Opens in Old Greenwich

On Friday, Halloween Eve, Christine Negroni, author of the New York Times bestseller The Crash Detectives: Investigating the World’s Most Mysterious Air Disasters, will be unveiling “Books in the Garden,” the first Little Free Library in Old Greenwich. 

Earlier this month, a Little Free Library was established in Cos Cob at Mill Pond Park.

As the author of two books, Negroni is a big fan of reading. And eating!

“The little pantry makes it easy to share non-perishable food items with neighbors,” Negroni explained of the added twist to her project.

Little Free Library includes food pantry at 26 Highview Ave in Old Greenwich. Photo: Christine Negroni

The library-slash-pantry has been open for about two weeks, but what will make the Friday event special is the unveiling of two original art panels by a artist Danielle Dimston, a well-known artist in New York. 

Negroni said Dimston saw a request she made on NextDoor for help with graphic design and responded.

“Bless her heart, she volunteered to go much further – painting two beautiful panels for the sides, one Garden of Reading is for the book side, the other Garden of Eating is for the pantry side.”

The entire library is made from recycled products, including a cabinet from Negroni’s garage, a cedar roof from an old paneled cedar closet, leftover plywood from a backyard shed, and cabinet knobs from an old beaded necklace.

For her artwork, Dimston even used old house paint that Negroni found in her basement.

“As soon as the weather improves, or Friday morning – whichever comes first – I’ll install the panels and then unveil them at a socially-distanced get-together on the street in front of the library at 26 Highview Avenue,” Negroni said.

Negroni said David Paqua, owner of Franklin Glass in Stamford, was nice enough to reconfigure the doors with glass, so passersby can see what’s inside.

Negroni said that masks and costumes are both encouraged at the Little Free Library in her garden.

“Treats will be served,” she said.

See also: Little Free Library Opens in Cos Cob