Gin City 4-H Club celebrates new Reading Patch mini free library for community
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Sept. 22, 2025
Fast Facts:
- Gin City 4-H Club cut ribbon at Reading Patch mini free library on Sept. 16
- Reading Patch located at Gin City Parts & Cafe in Bradley
- More than 250 books donated by community members, local children’s book author
- Mini free library is Gin City 4-H Club community service project
(605 words)
(Newsrooms: With photos)
BRADLEY, Ark. — Members of the Gin City community in Lafayette County, Arkansas, will now be able to enjoy a good book at The Reading Patch, a new mini free library created by the Gin City 4-H Club.
Four of the club’s members cut a bright green ribbon to celebrate the site’s dedication on Sept. 16.
The Reading Patch is located at Gin City Parts & Cafe, about four miles west of Bradley, Arkansas in the unincorporated community of Gin City. Jerri Dew, Lafayette County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the county’s 4-H club worked on The Reading Patch as a service project for the surrounding community.
“We began work on the project after receiving an Innovate Grant from the Arkansas 4-H Alumni Association at Ouachita District O-Rama in June,” Dew said. “The idea for the library came from a brainstorming session the group had for proposal ideas to apply for the grant.”
Dew said the project was funded in part by the $200 grant from the Arkansas 4-H Alumni Association, as well as a $200 contribution from the Community State Bank in Bradley.
“We have had more than twenty contributors to this project to date,” Dew said. “Most of those have been in-kind donations, including books, paint, supplies, a bench and pavers for the site.”
Through word of mouth, Dew said the group has collected more than 250 books for the free mini library. One grandparent of a group member reached out to Shelby Thompson, a local children’s book author, who donated several signed copies of his book “Freddie Finds His Glow” to the library and to the community’s youth.
Gin City 4-H Club members involved in the project include Adryianna Burton, Billy Downs, Lena Downs and Sunnie Downs. Members worked on the mini library site, painting a bright floral mural and planting new landscaping in the beds of the “patch.” They also helped with the construction of the small house-shaped wooden library.
“It is a small group, but this project has really put the group on the map down here,” Dew said. “I fully expect it to grow this year.”
Dew said the club has plans to host book readings, workshops and other programming at The Reading Patch in the future.
Teaching the value of community service
Adryianna Burton, 12, has been a member of the Gin City 4-H Club since it began meeting in 2024. She said her favorite part about being in 4-H is “when we get to do activities that help the community and others worldwide.”
“Because the nearest public library is approximately 25 miles away from our community, our library makes getting books convenient,” Burton said. “Painting the mural at The Reading Patch with fun colors was my favorite part of working on it.”
Lena Downs, 14, said The Reading Patch serves an important need in her community, particularly for children.
“Some kids don’t have a chance to go to a library and get books, so I think this is a great opportunity for them to read,” Downs said.
Dew said community service projects like The Reading Patch are “one of the cornerstones of 4-H.”
“Through 4-H, youth are led to recognize and analyze a true need in the community, conceptualize a solution and carry out the project,” Dew said. “Being involved allows them to experience doing service for others. This euphoria of giving sticks with them, and they tend to continue a life of service. This project already has my participants asking what our next community service project is.”
Visit 4h.uada.edu to learn more about Arkansas 4-H or contact your local county agent.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
@RKHall_
501-671-2061