A new Little Free Library sponsored by the Rotary Club of Vero Beach Oceanside will carry on the legacy of an adorable little girl, Zayna “Z” Connolly, who died several years ago, just shy of her third birthday, after losing her battle with thalassemia, a rare blood disorder also known as Cooley’s anemia.
Vero Beach resident Mary Connolly, Zayna’s paternal grandmother, had seen some of the many Little Free Libraries around town and reached out to the Rotary Club to see if one could be built to honor the little girl, whose favorite book was “Goodnight Moon.”
Elaine Jones, past president and club RI Foundation chair, said their Rotary Club had already sponsored two other Little Libraries, one in Fellsmere and another on 14th Avenue in Vero Beach, and they were happy to oblige.
The Little Free Library organization, whose motto is Take a Book – Return a Book, is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit founded in 2009 to expand book access to everyone through volunteer-led book exchanges. There are now more than 100,000 Little Free Libraries around the world.
“When Mary called Rotary, of course Rotarians went into action and they made this dream come true for her,” said Jones.
They received permission from the City of Vero Beach to place the library alongside the children’s playground at the southernmost end of Riverside Park, so that it would be readily available for young readers to access. The city also provided new benches, and the Rotary Club has plans to put in a little picnic table nearby.
A recent dedication ceremony was attended by members of Zayna’s family and friends, Rotarians, and representatives from the city and county.
Jones pointed out that Rotarian Jim Parks built the sturdy, two-shelved library and artist Barbara Sharp painted it with colorful artwork. She based the design on a mural that had been painted in Zayna’s bedroom that featured some of the things she loved – owls, bubbles, butterflies and the color purple.
“In her short life, she touched so many people in the community,” said Noor Baqueri, Zayna’s maternal grandmother.
Connolly said that “Z” was a “beautiful girl with a zest for life, whose hope, courage and smile were contagious to all of those who were lucky enough to have known her.”
More than 100 children’s books have already been donated and Connolly and some friends will ensure the library is maintained. She said that each book in the library has a stamp inside in Zayna’s memory, with the hashtag “Be Happy.”
At the dedication, Baqueri held up her phone so that Zayna’s New York-based parents, Michael and Sarah Connolly, could watch the ceremony. Mary Connolly later shared that Zayna will forever be a Guardian Angel to the couple’s two sons, who were born after her passing.
“I’m extremely grateful to all who made this Little Free Library a reality. This was a project of hard work, love and patience,” said Connolly. “This is such a special way to continue honoring her memory through the hearts and minds of generations to come. She is with us today.”
Little cards were given out that have Zayna’s infectious grin on one side, and on the other, information about the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, which is a world leader in medical research for a cure and advanced medical treatment for the disease. Treatment currently requires that patients endure regular blood transfusions to live. In Zayna’s case, the transfusions were every three weeks.
For more information, visit thalassemia.org, littlefreelibrary.org or rotary vboceanside.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones
