PORT ALLEGANY — A Little Free Library is now available in Port Allegany, and can be located outside of the Senior Center, at the corner of Smith Avenue and Main Street.

Madison Kottwitz, with a little help from her father, Shawn, created and designed the Little Free Library to offer books to the community. Kottwitz chose the library as her Girl Scout Gold Project and worked with her former scout leader in Virginia to achieve the Girl Scouts Highest Honor.

The Little Free Library is a globally known nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire reading, build up communities and spark creativity in all ages. There are books for all ages, with a variety of genres that are changing all the time. The procedure for borrowing a book from this free neighborhood book exchange is simple to follow: take a book or leave a book — no strings attached.

Kottwitz completed her Bronze Award in 2015 with her troop in Virginia, by creating a Nature Trail near the elementary school. She earned her Silver Award with a partner in 2019, when the pair created self-care packages for those in need.

Madison is a senior at Port Allegany High School. High school guidance counselor and Port Allegany mayor, George Riley, assisted Madison in finding a location for the new library.