Where to Find the Indiana Camping Library Lady

My family and I are big fans of camping. A few years ago, my mom bought a really nice camper from a neighbor and gifted it to my brother and me. We usually get out a couple of times a year in the spring and fall, though we sometimes manage a summer getaway, too.

We've explored some great spots like Kentucky Lake, Horse Cave, Pennyrile, Lincoln State Park, and New Harmony. We try to visit somewhere new each time we go, and we're excited about our first camping trip to Louisville this Halloween.

One thing I’m a bit torn about with camping is the lack of technology. In most places, you can't even get cell service. It’s fantastic for getting my husband and kids off their phones and into some good old-fashioned fun. But I have to admit, it can be a bit rough trying to unwind at night without Wi-Fi, cell service, or TV. I need to doom scroll!

I’ve found that bringing a book makes all the difference. I’m not a big reader on a daily basis—being an editor means I read all day for work, so reading for fun at home doesn’t always sound appealing. But when I’m on vacation, especially while camping and the kids are entertained, it’s the perfect time to get lost in a good book.

That’s why I was so excited to see Aimee Ulrich McMillin’s post in the Indiana Camping group on Facebook. Aimee, who proudly goes by the unofficial title of the Indiana Camping Library Lady, brings a selection of books on every trip.

I had the chance to chat with Aimee about her passion for combining books with the great outdoors.

Aimee Ulrich McMillin

How often do you camp?

My husband and I still work and we also have a 12 year old daughter so we usually camp once or twice a month during the season. We would love to be able to camp more.

How did you get the idea to offer a mobile library?

I’ve always loved the idea of the Little Free Libraries and wanted to start my own. I researched what people use to keep the books in and I saw that some people take them camping. I thought why not combine 2 things that I love. Camping and reading. That is where the idea started.

Aimee Ulrich McMillin

Do people often utilize the service?

People LOVE our library. I post where we are going to be the week before we go and people get so excited. We have had people take pictures with the library and post them on Facebook. We have a dedicated Facebook page called Camp S’more, Read S’more. We have had kids leave us notes thanking us. They draw us pictures and it’s really quite sweet.

Aimee Ulrich McMillin

Do they leave books for others?

We do have people that will donate books to us but we do not require that people leave a book before they take one. We want everyone that enjoys reading and books to have access to them free of charge. I had a cousin that was an elementary school teacher. Sadly she passed away from cancer a couple of years ago. Her daughter donated all of her books from her classroom to our library. She always said she “wanted a book in every child’s hands”. Her daughter started a fund in her memory to help teachers in our community with whatever they need for their classrooms. It is called the Penny Prather Memorial Fund. I am very proud that she is continuing to help kids and adults enjoy reading.

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And, the response on her post was fantastic.

facebook

I absolutely love this and hope to meet up with Aimee and her family on one of our camping adventures! Aimee told me they will be at Tippecanoe River State Park on August 23-25. Keep up with where the Indiana Camping Library Lady will be headed next on their Facebook page Camp S’more, Read S’more.

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Source: Where to Find the Indiana Camping Library Lady

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