Season’s Readings: Denali Harley Davidson installs one of several new book exchange boxes in the Valley

WASILLA — There’s a new community book exchange box inside the Denali Harley Davidson parking lot, one of several new boxes that have popped up in the Mat-Su Valley in recent years.

Now that summer is over and outside adventures are narrowing, the notion of sitting down with a quiet book seems like an appropriate way to settle into another fall and winter season.

The idea for the book exchange box is simple: take a book, leave a book. There’s no fees or stipulations. From neighborhoods to playgrounds, there’s numerous boxes around the Valley and the overall number across communities is growing.

“A lot of people can’t just go out and go buy books and sometimes it’s inconvenient to go get ‘em. So, this is a great place to get a good selection. You know, leave two take one, take two leave one. I just love the community aspect of it,” Denali Harley Davidson general manager Fred Becker said.

Becker said they set up their book box over a month ago.There’s wood burnt letters on the front that says “Book Exchange” and an American flag design on the side with a Harley Davison symbol where the stars usually go.

Becker said that he made a wood cut out of Snoopy in his Red Baron outfit and plans to paint it and mount it on top of the box soon. He laughed and said it was so tempting because the box looks like Snoopy’s dog house.

“Snoopy’s house… man it would look really cool if Snoopy was sitting on top of that thing,” Becker said.

This book box resulted from a recent staff brainstorm session, according to Becker. He said they’re always trying to come up with new ways to engage and give back to the community. From their annual holiday fundraisers to spur of the moment charity events, the Denali Harley shop has community driven events running year-round.

Becker got excited after he opened the book box, finding a Jack Reacher novel he hasn’t read yet. He said that he was amazed by the amount of activity the box has been getting since they erected it, with new books cycling through it all the time. He said he can see it all from his office window.

“From here, you can tell it’s different from the other day. It’s been empty, almost a couple times… You can see the changes of colors in books and stuff. I can’t tell you how many times we see somebody pull up, sideways to it and they just get out of their vehicle on the side and just exchange books,” Becker said.

Becker said there’s always kid books in there along with other random picks.

“I mean, it’s of value because you can always get something different and new,” Becker said.

There’s another new book box at the little playground near the Fred Meyer Fuel Station in Palmer called Bugge Park. The box was installed this summer, according to Ailis Vann, executive director of the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce.

The box was a joint effort between the Palmer Lions Club and Palmer Methodist Church. Vann said it was another example of community involvement.

“I think it just brings more of that sense of community for people and it’s just another reason to take a walk in the evening,” Vann said.

A new book box opened up recently in a Palmer neighborhood just off the Old Glenn Highway and Caribou Avenue. The box stands at the entry of a driveway. The property owner was not available for comment but the box was full of books.

Becker said that he hopes the Denali Harley’s box and other boxes inspire more areas around the Valley to start their own.

“It’s something that they can bring to they to their own area,” Becker said.

The book box at Bugge Park is a “Little Free Library” station which means it’s one of 90,000 plus public book exchanges registered with the national nonprofit organization.

For more information, visit littlefreelibrary.org

Contact Mat-Su Valley reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com