KANNAPOLIS — Another “Little Free Library” has come to Cabarrus County.
“Miss Statesville’s Outstanding Teen” McKenzie Cox brought her first installation to Concord earlier this year and debuted her second in Kannapolis on Thursday outside of the Cannon Ballers office, right next door to Atrium Health Ballpark in the heart of downtown.
This is the second “Little Free Library” to come to Cabarrus by Cox and the sixth she has opened since starting up her own 501(c)(3) called ROAD — Reading Opens All Doors.
“I am so excited to open another library in Cabarrus County, especially since our library in downtown Concord has been such a success,” Cox said.
One of Cox’s Little Free Libraries was already available in front of the Law Offices of Ben Cox in Concord. There are two more in Thomasville, one in Mooresville and another in Denton.
People are also reading…
Anyone can take a book or leave one at each location, with the little libraries fashioned out of old newspaper racks and open to everyone at any time.
Cox was on site to open her stand in Kannapolis alongside Carolina Princess Emmerson Perry on Thursday. The location is beside the water arches outside the Cannon Ballers offices, so she hopes children will be able to use the opportunity to take a book and share her passion for reading.
“Miss Statesville’s Outstanding Teen” McKenzie Cox (right) and Carolina Princess Emmerson Perry debut the second “Little Free Library” in Cabarrus County outside the office of the Cannon Ballers next door to Atrium Health Ballpark in downtown Kannapolis.
“I’ve always been passionate about reading,” she said in an interview in February. “It’s something that I have enjoyed, and I wanted to be able to make sure that all kids had access to age-appropriate reading materials and that they had opportunity to find a love for reading.”
The last few months have been difficult for all school-age students, including Cox, who is a 15-year-old attending Pine Lake Preparatory in Mooresville. She is working remotely for school, as are all students in Cabarrus County Schools. A good portion in Kannapolis City Schools started the year under Gov. Roy Cooper’s Plan B, which utilizes on-campus and online learning.
Schools have been forced to adapt, as has Cox, who has taken the time to host virtual storytimes on her “Miss Statesville’s Outstanding Teen” Facebook Page every Monday at 4 p.m.
She has partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Piedmont for the event and has reached more than 2,000 viewers.
She said she is very excited to begin a new partnership with the Cannon Ballers, who have been active in the community since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, despite the cancellation of the minor league season.
“Thank you to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers for reaching out and supporting literacy in our community,” Cox said.
