Carrying stories, building spaces…
by Jillian Surla, editor in chief
FAIRHOPE, Ala.—Some books change lives, while others are carried upstairs with a group of friends, passing them hand-to-hand in a human chain of shared, collaborative effort. On March 1, the Fairhope Public Library turned a simple move into a community-powered event, the “Book-It Brigade,” as volunteers worked together to transfer 4,210 books to the newly renovated Teen Space.
Inspired by the old firefighter bucket brigades, the event was not just about moving books—it was about moving forward. Friends, peers and strangers alike came together to be a part of something bigger than themselves.
Fairhope High School service clubs, such as Key Club, attended throughout the day, some staying for the entire event. Students from schools across the county joined as well—Daphne students insisted on staying to help move all books. Sometimes, patrons wandered in, asked about the event and suddenly found themselves part of the line, caught up in the energy of it all.
For some, the event became a moment to reflect on what libraries mean to them. Mabel Burch, a longtime teen volunteer, said she felt an intense emotional shift as she watched books fill the new space.
“I spent almost five hours volunteering, and it was amazing to see the old teen room empty out while the new one filled up,” Burch said. “Walking through the bare shelves of the old space was eerie, but seeing the new Teen Space stocked and ready was exciting. I’ve been worried about the future of libraries, so watching ours expand instead of shrink means a lot.”
For others, the event gave them an opportunity to make friends, and, in some cases, test out personal limits.
“The Book-It Brigade was fun! I enjoy repetitive tasks, so handing off 4,000 books flew by. The hardest part was when I was on the stairs—reaching farther out got tiring. But I’d do it again. Also, I ate two oranges with the peel because I have my rights,” said Abner Burch, attendee.
Teen volunteers Olivia Goodin and Nate Lee spent much of their time loading books onto carts before sending them through the brigade.
“The Book-It Brigade was the most fun thing I’ve done at the library. It was important work, but it felt lighthearted because we got to talk and hang out while moving books,” Goodin said. “There were fewer people than expected, but we finished surprisingly quickly. The new Teen Space is going to be a hit!”
The new upstairs space, designed for teens aged 13 to 18, offers a dedicated area away from the juvenile and adult sections—something the library has never had before. And for many of the volunteers, that space represents more than just bookshelves and chairs. It is a place where they can exist as they are.
“I loved spending time with my friends in a different way,” said Eleanor Boyer, teen volunteer. “The best part? Now we finally have a space where we can actually be teenagers—loud, obnoxious, crazy, etc.”
To recognize the volunteers who made the move possible, the library sent out personalized Certificates of Appreciation, each with signatures of the volunteers along with signatures of Casey Henderson (Youth Services Department Head) and Allyson Russel (Teen Services Librarian) names.
Volunteers and attendees worked together to create a space that is not just for books, but for memories, friendships and a new beginning. Though the grand opening of the Teen Space is still to be determined, it is expected to happen sometime in April. Until then, the space stands as a reminder that small acts can shape the future and bring people together in meaningful ways.
