At Tournament House, ‘Little’ Library Opens Big Doors

The Tournament of Roses dedicated its own free lending library on the grounds of Tournament House on March 1, 2021. (Photo by Eddie Rivera)

The Tournament of Roses dedicated its own free lending library on the grounds of Tournament House on March 1, 2021. (Photo courtesy of Tournament of Roses)

The Tournament of Roses' Little Free Library was built by Kevin Sommerfield and Executive Committee Vice President Terry Madigan. (Image courtesy of the Tournament of Roses)

The Tournament of Roses Executive Committee Vice President Terry Madigan shown hard at work building the Tournament's Little Free Library. (Image courtesy of the Tournament of Roses)

Kevin Sommerfield carefully paints the Tournament of Roses' Little Free Library which he built with Executive Committee Vice President Terry Madigan. (Image courtesy of the Tournament of Roses)

The Tournament of Roses' Little Free Library was built by Kevin Sommerfield and Executive Committee Vice President Terry Madigan. (Image courtesy of the Tournament of Roses)

Pasadena has a new library, although it’s a bit smaller than the city’s other libraries.

In celebration of “Read Across America Day,” March 2, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Monday unveiled its own official Little Free Library, at Tournament House, headquarters to the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game.

The small replica of the famous house, near the intersection of Orange Grove Boulevard and Arbor Street, is now filled with books for the community and is a space for book-sharing.

“Little Free Library’s mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all. We do that through a network of volunteers across the globe,” explained Greig Metzger, Little Free Library Executive Director.

Metzger added, “We are excited to work with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses volunteers as they help share books across the community’s Little Free Libraries.”

As Tournament of Roses Vice-president Terry Madigan explained, the library, one of more than two dozen in Pasadena, is run with a “take a book, leave a book” policy.

Volunteer members also spent Monday stocking other Little Free Library boxes across Pasadena with books donated by Literati, a subscription book club company that curates books for all ages. Last month, the Tournament of Roses put 10,000 books into the hands of local children, ages 5-12, thanks to the generous donation by Literati.

“Literati is passionate about increasing early childhood literacy,” said Vanessa Castañeda, director of philanthropy at Literati. “Thanks to partners like The Pasadena Tournament of Roses and Little Free Library, so many families in Pasadena will have access to vibrant kids books.”

“When a child learns how to read, they unlock their potential to learn how to do anything,” she added.

A handful of the Tournament’s 935 volunteer members will also serve as virtual guest readers to students throughout the Pasadena Unified School District and community organizations., which the organization has done for the past several years.

“As our country and community emerge from this pandemic,” said Tournament of Roses President Bob Miller, “perhaps on the minds of many is the recognition of the importance of literacy and reading. The Association’s Little Free Library—carefully, skillfully, and lovingly built by Kevin Sommerfield, the husband of Executive Committee Vice President Terry Madigan—is a small but mighty reminder of the importance of reading to learn, have fun, and enjoy daily peace of mind.”