You may have seen them cropping up around the neighborhood — Little Free Libraries are tiny libraries installed on posts outside homes or organizations where community members can “take a book, leave a book,” and they are often just the size of large birdhouses.

A Little Free Library is being installed in front of Samuel Huey school (Facebook photo).

The West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC), which works systematically to reopen closed school libraries in West Philly and around the city (95 percent of Philly public schools lack a functioning school library), is also using the Little Free Library model to get books into the hands of children over the summer and in the evenings.

New research suggests that having books in the home is the single most important factor in future literacy, more important even than the educational attainment or income of parents.

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2014, WePAC organized a build day that produced 11 Little Free Libraries. But only two have been installed so far — one in front of Samuel Huey school, and one inside Y-HEP, a health clinic at 15th and Locust that is part of Philadelphia FIGHT. In addition to allowing the tiny library to be installed on their property, host sites make sure the libraries stay in good condition and re-stock them with books if borrowers neglect to return.

But WePac has nine other libraries still awaiting homes. “The challenge is to find locations where someone can commit to maintaining the library for the long haul,” says Mica Navarro Lopez, WePAC’s Deputy Executive Director.

WePAC is actively seeking sites where the remaining nine libraries will be cared for by a responsible steward—this might be a school, a community organization, or private individual who lives within their service area. If you or your organization is interested in becoming a host site to a WePAC Little Free Library, get in touch with them by filling out their contact form at http://wepac.org/contact-us/.

– Emma Eisenberg

A small, white dog (a poodle/Maltese mix), went missing this morning when her owner was visiting a friend in the area. She was last seen near 49th and Warrington. The dog answers to Hazel, but may be scared. A “big reward” is offered to the person who finds her. Please call 215-262-2057 with information.

University City Dining Days, a popular annual event helping drive traffic to local restaurants during slow summer months, will return on Thursday, July 16 and you can make your reservations now. This event is a great chance for those who like to eat out, but can’t always afford it, or want to check out some new restaurants in the area. As always, the event is based on the concept “3 course, 3 prices” – a pre-fixe three-course dinner special for $15, $25 or $35.

Thirty three restaurants, including craft beer bars, cozy BYOB’s, celebrity chef and ethnic restaurants, are participating in this year’s Dining Days. Six restaurants are participating in the event for the first time: 48th Street Grille, Hai Street Kitchen & Company, St. Declan’s Well, Wahoo’s Tacos and More, William Street Common, and Zavino University City.

See the full list of participating restaurants, menus and prices at www.ucdiningdays.com. Please note that prices are for dinner only and do not include tax, gratuity or alcohol. Reservations should be made directly through the participating restaurant.

The event runs through July 26.

Replacement of deteriorating 41st Street Bridge, which connects Mantua Avenue and Poplar Street, will begin on Sunday, July 12, the Philadelphia Streets Department has announced. The bridge will be demolished and removed within three months. The new bridge, a two-span continuous structure with architectural concrete parapets and fencing, is expected to be open by December 2016. The proposed roadway will include two travel lanes with wide shoulders and sidewalks, new street lighting, signing, line striping, ADA curb ramps, and enhanced safety features, such as the realignment of the Mantua Avenue and 41st Street intersection.

Demolition and construction activities will be carried during overnight hours – 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. – on Sunday through Thursday.

This work is part of the $10.8M contract with Loftus Construction, and is being funded using 80 percent federal and 20 percent state dollars.

UPDATE: Registration for Session 1 of the SNAP Box program is still open. Please go to: http://www.greensgrow.org/life/snapbox/sign-up or contact Greensgrow at: snapbox@greensgrow.org or 267-496-0148.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a great thing, but most farm share programs are costly and inaccessible for many city residents. Greensgrow Farms is bringing back its low-cost SNAP Box program this summer to help connect low-income individuals and families with local farmers and their produce. The program launches on Thursday, July 9, and here are more details:

SNAP Box participants in West Philadelphia can purchase their produce from Greensgrow West located at 4912 Baltimore Ave. on Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m. The SNAP Box program consists of three sessions, and each session runs for four weeks. Session 1 begins the week of July 9th, session 2 begins the week of August 6th, and session 3 begins the week of September 3rd. A one time fee of $26 valued at a retail price of $64 will offer participants an assortment of 5-8 weekly produce items sourced from local farms throughout the four-week program. In addition, program participants will have access to an onsite nutritionist and herbalist who will answer general health related questions and to free culinary education classes. Recipes, food prep and storage tips will also be offered. Additional information about the farms and farmers who contributed to the share will also be available.

Sign-up is still open for sessions 2 and 3. More information and a sign-up form are available here. If you have questions, please email: snapbox@greensgrow.org or call 267.496.0148.

Tangle Movement Arts performs at The Rotunda. (Photo courtesy of Tangle Movement Arts)

The Rotunda at 40th and Walnut is one of West Philly’s cultural landmarks, hosting over 300 art and community events and 17,000 visitors each year. It’s an early 20th century building, and those who work, perform or gather there in the summer know that it may be tough to deal with the heat. The only cooling at the space comes from some old industrial fans in the windows and some weak house fans on the floor. The Rotunda is part of the University of Pennsylvania Facilities and Real Estate Services Arts Portfolio (FRES ARTS). Penn purchased the building in 1995 as part of a community investment strategy. Now a petition is being distributed on Change.org, asking Penn’s Board of Trustees and university administration to fund installation of a much needed air-conditioning system at the space.

“The challenge is that the venue lacks the air-conditioning needed to support summer events without creating dangerous conditions for audiences and artists alike. We think it is time for the University of Pennsylvania, which sits on a $9 billion+ endowment, to upgrade the facility so that it can be utilized fully during summer months,” the petition reads.

The petition was started about a week ago, and has already been signed by over 500 people. To read the petition and sign it, go to: https://www.change.org/p/university-of-pennsylvania-air-condition-the-rotunda-for-the-community