Little Library dedicated to Pottsville's 'Library Lady'

Mar. 4—POTTSVILLE — The legacy of Pottsville's "Library Lady" lives on in a Little Library near Pottsville Pizzeria in Mount Carbon.

For about 40 years, Barbara A. Kull was a library aide in Pottsville elementary schools and at the Pottsville Free Public Library.

Generations of children, whom she supplied with Berenstain Bears and Dr. Seuss books, knew Kull simply as the Library Lady.

A resident of Mount Carbon, Kull passed away at age 72 in 2015.

In observance of her mother's 80th birthday, Susan Farr recently installed a Little Library on Main Street at the edge of the Pizzeria parking lot.

The tribute coincides with Read Across America, the National Education Association's celebration of reading, which began March 2.

Farr, a vice president of human resources at AAA Berks-Reading, purchased Little Free Library Charter No. 155237. Her husband, Dave Farr, installed it.

Dean Weingard, a Pottsville artist, painted a portrait of Kull and the Berenstain Bears on one side of the library box. Berenstain Bears' books were her favorite.

On the other side, Weingard painted a quote from Dr. Seuss' "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut" — "The more that you read, the more things you'll know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

Brody McCord, 8, Farr's grandson, recently perused the selection that included "Arthur's Hiccups" and Harry Potter books. Farr also included books that would appeal to adults.

"My hope is that the inventory will rotate," said Farr, who noticed the library had been used within days of its installation.

Scott Kline, manager, said Pottsville Pizzeria was happy to allow the library to be placed on its property.

"It's a great thing," Kline said, "for the community."

Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007