By Gavin McIntyre gmcintyre@postandcourier.com ); }
Millions of adults across the United States cannot read above a third grade level and millions of children in poverty in the country don t own books.
A nonprofit book-sharing network is hoping to change those trends by using small libraries to provide greater access to reading materials.
Little Free Libraries, founded in 2009, has more than 100,000 small libraries at homes, schools and many other locations in more than 100 countries. The book exchanges provide 24/7 access, hoping to fill book deserts and inspire a love of reading.
LFL s online map shows 700 book-sharing boxes in South Carolina and 44 in Charleston. There are certainly more, since people opt whether to have their library represented on the map, said LFL spokeswoman Margret Aldrich.