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WALTHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Though taking books from a library may be commonplace, one individual cleaned out a roadside library in Waltham on Sunday with apparently no intention to return them.
In 2020 Krysta Petrie and Katie Cohen created "Little Queer Library" on the lawn of their home to provide free books about LGBTQ+ people to the Waltham community but have run into repeated instances of their inventory getting taken without being replaced. According to Petrie, several hundred of dollars' worth of books have disappeared.
On Sunday morning a good Samaritan spotted a man approaching the rainbow-colored box, the library said. After calling the police, the witness watched as the man continued to take the books even after being confronted, driving off. Surveillance cameras caught images of the man and his car, which were posted online by the LQL.
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"It's very disheartening to have this happen three times within about a month," Petrie said. The Waltham Police Department are working with the Middlesex County District Attorney's office to see if there are any charges officials could press, but since the books were free it may be a bit of a "legal grey area," Petrie said.
But in the meantime, Petrie and Cohen said they will continue stocking the shelves on the LQL's Facebook page.
"We are more determine than ever to keep this library going. Because of the overwhelming outpouring of recent support, we will be fully restocking as soon as possible," LQL said. The library also said that they will continue to donate books to the community and update their online book wish list.
WBZ's Brooke McCarthy (@BrookeWBZ) reports.
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