Karmen Blackwell, Senior Property Manager, South Region, recently executed a passion project of hers at Panama City Square by opening Brixmor’s first Little Free Library at the center. This new feature creates a special gathering place and gives the community a way to connect to one another through reading and sharing books. Read about this project in a special blog post written by Karmen. A big thank you to her for sharing her story with us! Little Free Library comes to Panama City Square This past December, at Panama City Square Shopping Center, the South Region rolled out their very first Little Free Library stocked with books from the LFL Read in Color program. Little Free Library® (LFL) is a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community and improves book access through neighborhood book-exchange boxes just like ours. I’ve installed these libraries in the past and they have shown to positively impact the community’s relation to the retailers on site. It was a natural choice to add some libraries as a placemaking opportunity. Our library at Panama City Square also supports Read in Color® which is a new initiative bringing diverse books to Little Free Libraries around the world. We believe everyone should be able to see themselves in the pages of a book. We also know that books can be a window into experiences that are different from our own. By reading diverse books, we can increase understanding, empathy, and inclusion. LFL has been recognized by the Library of Congress, the National Book Foundation and received the 2020 World Literacy Award. There are more than 100,000 Little Free Libraries around the world in 108 countries worldwide. Now Panama City Square is joining the movement to share books, bring people together and grow our community of readers. These efforts are a small part of Brixmor’s vision, To be the center of the communities we serve by matching vibrant retailers with thriving communities. Written by: Karmen Blackwell, Senior Property Manager, South Learn more about Panama City Square and Little Free Library by visiting the links below.