
Brad Knebel makes last minute preparations for the Kiwanis Little Free Library at the Crystal Lake Park District’s Nature Center on the eastern edge of Veteran Acres. Knebel is the Manager of the Crystal Lake branch of Midwest Bank and built the library.
Tuesday afternoon the Crystal Lake Kiwanis, Park District and Public Library dedicated a Little Free Library at the Nature Center on the eastern side of Veterans Acres.
It sits at the top of the hill off North Williams Street.
The Little Free Library has a cedar shake roof and overlooks the pond near two benches.

What would a dedication be without a ribbon cutting? From left to right are Amber Johnson, Anne O’Hara, Ann Viger (Park District Planning and Development Director), Â Debbie Gallagher (Park District Commissioner), Brad Knebel, Carol Heisler, Jason Herbster (Park District Director), Kathryn Martens (Library Director), plus Knebel and Johnson kids in front.
The idea behind the little lending library is to make reading material for both adults and children in their neighborhood.
One is supposed to trade a book with which someone is finished for another in the Little Library.
The trade is not a necessity, however, because the Friends of the Crystal Lake Library will periodically add books to the collection.
Other locations in McHenry County follow:
- 902 Elden Drive, Cary, Kay Steward
- 127 College Street, Crystal Lake, Michael Penkava Steward
- Michael Penkava, Jill and Larry May Stewards
They have quite a few of these neighborhood little wooden book houses on a post in Minneapolis.