MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Inspired by the idea of two Murfreesboro public services joining together to expand literacy through greater access to books, third-grade students at Discovery School partnered with Murfreesboro Transit to install “Little Free Libraries” at the City’s Transit Center and two bus shelters.
Murfreesboro City Schools, Discovery School, and Murfreesboro Transit celebrated the opening of a Little Free Library and the “big idea” that came from small hands during a special ribbon-cutting ceremony held May 19, 2026, at the Murfreesboro Transit Center bus operating area, located at 324 New Salem Highway.
The ceremony recognized the students’ efforts, community collaboration, and a shared commitment to promoting literacy throughout Murfreesboro.
“This project is a powerful example of what happens when students are encouraged to think about real-world challenges,” said Discovery School Principal Dr. Caitlin Bullard. “The students saw a need and worked together with their teacher and families to make a difference.”
The project grew out of Discovery School’s third-grade, first-quarter Project-Based Learning experience. While studying access to books around the world, students explored how transportation systems can help connect people to resources. The class mapped Murfreesboro Transit routes and learned basic coding skills by programming Ozobots to “deliver” books along those routes.
“When City staff members suggested the idea of locating Little Free Libraries at the Transit Center and along Murfreesboro Transit bus routes, we couldn’t have been more supportive,” said Assistant Transportation Director Russ Brashear. “As a service to low-and-moderate-income residents who rely on public transportation, this project perfectly aligns with our mission.”
In addition to the Little Free Library at the Murfreesboro Transit Center, two additional libraries are being installed at:
- The bus shelter on Memorial Boulevard in front of Walmart
- The bus shelter on Innsbrooke Boulevard adjacent to Kroger
Discovery School is an academic magnet school within Murfreesboro City Schools, serving students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is recognized as a Tennessee Reward School and a recipient of the National Blue Ribbon School distinction. Discovery School was also recently redesignated as a Tennessee-designated STEAM school by the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Science Innovation Network.
First launched in St. Paul, Minnesota, Little Free Library works to build community, inspire readers, and expand access to books through a global network of volunteer-led book-sharing boxes.
The Murfreesboro Transit Center, which includes a passenger pavilion along with maintenance and administration facilities, officially opened to the public with new routes on Sept. 8, 2025.
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