CHASSE Building Team, which is the 2020 Tempe Chamber of Commerce Large Business of the Year, has partnered with the Tempe Elementary School District to assemble and launch “Little Free Libraries” at four district elementary schools: Laird, Thew, Nevitt and Scales.

“A Little Free Library is a ‘take a book, return a book’ free book exchange. They come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common version is a small wooden box of books,” says Barry Chasse, founder of CHASSE, who is himself a father of two daughters. “Anyone may take a book or bring a book to share.”

According to Little Free Library, the overarching 501(c)(3) organization that founded the concept, studies show that children growing up in homes without books are on average three years behind children in homes with lots of books, even when controlled for other key factors.

“Being able to read changes lives for children. CHASSE’s donation of the Little Free Libraries will impact our children for years to come,” said Tempe Elementary School District superintendent Christine Busch in a prepared statement.

CHASSE both assembled the four 4-foot structures at the schools as well as donated 25 books to each Little Free Library to get the sharing started. CHASSE also painted each one with the famous Dr. Seuss quote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go” to inspire those of all ages who come upon them outside of each school.

“We also painted each structure with each school’s individual colors, and there is a plaque from the Tempe Elementary School District and our team dedicating each library to the children and teachers,” Mr. Chasse said.

Beyond this donation, CHASSE also recently completed work on the district’s new Wood Elementary School, which was built from the ground up on a site adjacent to the existing (and now former) facility over the past year.

The new school facilities feature 30 classrooms, administration and office space, a learning commons building, a multipurpose room and a cafeteria building with three music classrooms.