Girl Scout Troop Builds Little Free Library to Spark a Love for Reading in Truitt Middle School Community
In a heartfelt display of creativity, teamwork, and community service, a local Girl Scout troop has built and installed a Little Free Library near Truitt Middle School—bringing free books, bright colors, and a whole lot of heart to the surrounding The Colonies community.
The local troop, led by Marissa Kobal and Saira Patel, undertook the project as part of the Bronze Award, the highest honor for Girl Scouts in grades 4-5. More than a simple book-sharing station, it’s a hands-on example of the Girl Scoutt mission in action: building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
“The girls were brainstorming ideas for the project and one of our Girl Scouts recently visited a Little Free Library in our neighborhood and suggested,” explained troop leader Marissa Kobal, who has been guiding the troop through every step of the process.
Rooted in Community and Family
The library’s location—just outside Truitt Middle School—was no accident. With close family ties to the school, including relatives who teach there, the girls wanted their project to directly benefit their extended school community. As the Girl Scouts in this local troop shared, “A couple family members are teachers at Truitt and personally suggested the nearby neighborhoods could benefit from one.”
The design process turned into a multigenerational collaboration. Kobal’s own father, Bob Maddy—lovingly known as “Pa”—rolled up his sleeves and worked side-by-side with the girls in his garage to bring their vision to life. At 81 years young, Maddy helped them source materials, measure, and assemble the wooden structure. “A special touch is each of us left our painted handprint on the library,” the girls said, adding a colorful and sentimental signature to the final product.
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Books for All Ages, Lessons for a Lifetime
True to the Girl Scout value of inclusivity, the library is stocked with a wide variety of books meant to appeal to readers of all ages. Whether it's picture books for toddlers or novels for teens, the goal is to encourage everyone in the community to read more.
The concept behind this project is rooted in the Little Free Library movement, a global nonprofit that began in 2009 with a simple idea: take a book, leave a book. These small, publicly accessible book-sharing boxes are designed to improve book access, especially in areas where libraries may be limited or underfunded. As of 2024, there are more than 175,000 registered Little Free Libraries in over 120 countries, according to the organization’s official site.
And the need is real. Research from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy shows that roughly 54% of U.S. adults are reading below a sixth-grade level. Additionally, a 2023 study by Little Free Library found that neighborhoods with one of their book-sharing boxes saw a 73% increase in book access for children and families who didn’t previously have books at home.
“Patience is a key to success,” the girls said, reflecting on what her troop learned throughout the Bronze Award journey. “Also some great carpentry skills and painting.” The troop took on each task—from design to construction to promoting the project with a video—together as a team, embodying the spirit of shared responsibility.
They later watched the video as a group after it aired at Truitt, and according to these local Gurl Scouts, “Our family members that work at Truitt shared it had a positive response.”
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Supported by Community and Committed to the Future
This initiative would not have been possible without the encouragement of local leaders. The troop reached out to My Neighborhood News for help making their dream a reality, and the publication connected them with Brian Rogers, president of the Georgetown Colony 1 HOA. Rogers became an enthusiastic supporter of the project, assuring the girls that their efforts would be appreciated by the neighborhood.
The troop has committed to maintaining the Little Free Library monthly to ensure it stays stocked and inviting. “We have pledged to work together as a troop to maintain the library on a monthly basis,” Kobal said.
This project is just the beginning for the young changemakers. Many of the Scouts already have their eyes set on earning higher honors such as the Silver and Gold Awards, which require even deeper levels of service and leadership.
When asked why projects like these matter, the Girl Scouts didn’t hesitate. “To make the world a better place by being future leaders in our communities. After all ‘Making the world a better place,’ is part of the Girl Scout Promise & Law.”
For now, the troop invites the community to stop by, take a book, leave a book, and be part of their reading revolution. “We worked hard,” the girls added. “Come check it out! We’re proud to be a part of your community.”
Stay tuned with My Neighborhood News for more local stories about youth leadership, community projects, and education initiatives making an impact across Northwest Houston.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
