Three Little Libraries have been completed

Scout Claire Matherly, with state flag, is set to be Campbell County’s first female Eagle Scout.

By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Scout Claire Matherly’s Eagle Scout project promotes literacy in Campbell County with the addition of three “Little Libraries.”

Matherly, who will also graduate from Roane State Community College as a dual enrollment student on Saturday, said that literacy and reading are important to her. She wanted to share her love or reading and its benefits with others in the county.

“I’ve always loved reading, and it saddens me, because not everyone knows the joy of it. This project aims to bring literature to the county so people can love books as much as I do,” Matherly said.

She’s spent her whole spring break putting her Eagle Scout project together.

In April, Matherly raised around $1,000 with a dog wash fundraiser to earn money for supplies to build the little libraries. Her family also made donations and helped raise funds.

With help from her family and fellow Scouts of Troop 435, three “Little Libraries” have been installed at specific locations around the county where she feels they will “benefit people the most.” These locations include Tennova-La Follette Medical Center, Food Life Services and Ridge View Behavioral Health Services.

Little Libraries are small, enclosed structures that hold books and operate on the “take a book, leave a book” concept, which eliminates late fees.

Book donations, so each library was fully stocked upon completion, were accepted by Matherly.

Matherly said she wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped with her Dog Wash fundraiser and her Eagle Scout project.

BSA Scout Claire Matherly chose literacy as her Eagle Scout Project and installed three Little Libraries around the county. Her family and fellow troop members from Troop 435 helped with the project this pat month, installing libraries at Ridgeview, Tennova and Food Life Services.

All that hard work has paid off and Matherly is set to be Campbell County’s first female Eagle Scout after her May 5 Eagle Ceremony, which will be held at the LaFollette Methodist Church on Sunday at 2 pm.

BSA Troop Leader Liz White said she is incredibly proud of Matherly and all her accomplishments over the past couple of years.

Soon to be Eagle Scout Claire Matherly has completed her Eagle Scout project and installed three “Little Libraries” around the County. Matherly is pictured with her dog Lucky.

“We have shared many experiences on her trail to Eagle. It has been a learning experience for us all. I have learned a lot from being her leader. She is a great example for the entire troop and always willing to help push us to new heights,” White said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/02/2024-6AM-PHOTOS SUBMITTED)

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