Chapter Spotlight: SBC Apex Little Free Library
SBC’s First Official Little Free Library Is Here — And It’s Pure Community Magic!
by Jazmyn Jackson
We are so proud to announce that SBC’s first official Little Free Library has been brought to life by the Apex, North Carolina chapter — and no, HQ had nothing to do with it!
The idea was sparked by Galena, one of the chapter’s regulars. In her own words:
"As this is a group of voracious readers, we all own lots of fabulous books that we've read and re-read and would like to share. So, I broached the idea of a convenient Little Free Library that we could take care of as curators and stewards. I volunteered to take this on as a project — and off we went!"
With full-steam ahead support from chapter organizer, Divya, members raised money via GoFundMe and got in contact with their meetup location’s property manager, who not only found a great spot on the property but even offered to help with the installation. The result? A Little Free Library that doesn’t just serve chapter members—it opens the door to the broader Apex community, inviting anyone and everyone to take a book, leave a book, and linger a little longer.
And the response has been nothing short of beautiful. Right after the group photo was taken, Divya recalls:
"Someone remarked how we can all take care of the LFL since one of us is always there every weekend. It wasn't a Galena thing or a me thing—it truly became a we thing in that moment."
That right there is Silent Book Club in a nutshell.
While the concept is simply made by design—show up, read, breathe—there is something quietly profound about what happens when people father in comfortable silence together.
As Galena puts it:
"It turns out that reading independently in the vicinity of others has a meditative quality that has helped me regulate my nervous system more than some meds."
We are right there with ya.
Divya & Galena
Silent Book Club is advertised as “Introvert happy hour.” But if you get the chance to look up from your book at one of these gatherings, you’ll see people-–people just like you—looking to belong to somewhere that values slowness and quiet over noise and performance. With that kind of authenticity comes the opportunity to blossom, to understand your neighbor, and to become a villager.
The Apex, NC chapter demonstrates that beautifully.
So here’s a big SBC shoutout and a whispered “RIGHT ON!” to Divya, Galena, and every member who made this happen—for collaborating so thoughtfully, for showing us what it looks like to build community piece by piece, and for committing not just to each other, but to their wider neighborhood.
Access for all, one book at a time.
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Dreaming up your own Little Free Library?
Here’s some inspo from the SBC Apex chapter organizer, Divya:
Make a plan, gather a small group with clear goals, and just go for it! Feel free to reach out to us for any tips/advice on steps we took & remember that readers mostly love LFLs and will likely rally around it with excitement!
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Check out Little Free Library here!