In an effort to promote literacy in Warren County, a Warren County group is providing “Little Libraries” at several locations throughout the area.Rich Lagemann, a retired educator and school administrator, has obtained eight newspaper vending machines, two from The Missourian and six from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and refurbished them, transforming the machines into a little library where people can pick up and return books.Some of the machines have already been placed, with one outside the Economy Grocery Store in Wright City and one at the Warrenton Agape Ministry. Lagemann said he has been approved to place them at several other places in Warrenton and Wright City and is looking for a spot in Marthasville.The machines contain books for both adults and children, and people can “check them out” on an honor system, Lagemann said. But if they choose not to return them, that’s all right with Lagemann.“At least then the books will be in the home,” he said. “My goal is to get books into homes in Warren County.”Lagemann said he is hoping people will donate books to the libraries as well to keep them full.The libraries aren’t Lagemann’s only endeavor at promoting literacy in Warren County. With the help of school-age and other volunteers, he built and presented 75 bookcases to children entering kindergarten this year.Each oak bookcase is 2 feet wide by 3 feet tall and can hold up to 25 books.Last year, in conjunction with the bookcase project, a book drive was held and Lagemann said he received 4,000 books, some of which will be used in the library project, as well as in future bookcase projects.

Sarah Johnson Photo PROMOTES LITERACY Ñ "Little Free Libraries" like this one in front of Economy Market in Wright City will soon be popping up throughout the county, retired R-II administrator Rich Lagemann said. Lagemann, who refurbishes old newspaper vending machines and fills them with books he gathers from donations, is in the process of formalizing a Warren County literacy program by creating a 501(c)3 in hopes of getting donations to help further pursue his goal of getting books into people's homes.