The Lynx Books in Gainesville, Fla., has created a library at a local homeless shelter, the Gainesville Sun reported.
The library, which contains 1,300 books and is located in the former mail room of the Grace Marketplace homeless shelter, was unveiled on August 12. It features a mural of local plants and wildlife painted by Lynx employee Meghan Haile.
The Lynx created the library through its nonprofit arm, the Lynx Watch Inc., and the books were donated from a number of sources, including Penguin Random House and the Alachua County Library District Friends of the Library. A team of volunteers helped clear out the space, paint, and stock the shelves earlier this summer.
Grace Marketplace has been in operation since 2014 and offers a range of services including shelter, outreach, free meals, and more. John Thomas, interim CEO of Grace Marketplace, told the Sun: "Having this library on site gives our guests access to more resources while they're working towards being housed. We're grateful to share this opportunity with the folks we serve."
Author Lauren Groff and her husband, Clay Kallman, opened the Lynx in spring 2024 and launched the nonprofit soon after. Per the Sun, it has donated more than $50,000 worth of books as of August 1.