Dedicating the Little Library next to the Marathon School playground on Oct. 20 were (from left) Abby Hanscom, Erica Seekell, Lauren Dubeau, Jen Halliday and Sam, who created the design with with Eloise (last names not provided). PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Located adjacent to the Marathon School playground is a new, free community resource called the Little Library.

It is the latest effort by Hopkinton’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) to create a welcoming space for parents and caregivers to pick up a diverse collection of books with subjects like disabilities, special education, neurodiversity and mental health, “topics that carry a lot of stigma,” noted Erica Seekell, SEPAC’s events coordinator.

“Our hope is that this library fosters understanding and makes our community a more inclusive place for everyone,” she said.

SEPAC funded and stocked the small weatherproof library cupboard on a post. It is their hope that parents take and/or leave a book that they find helpful or can be useful to others.

The Little Library’s offerings are books outlining special education rights, effective communication strategies, behavioral techniques, emotional well-being and more.

The collection also includes inspiring stories and memoirs from parents and educators, “offering encouragement and hope,” according to SEPAC.

Reference books and novels featuring SPED topics are other options.

In addition to providing resources, the mission of the Little Library is to build a stronger, more connected community, according to Jennifer Halliday, SEPAC chair.

“This project represents our town’s commitment to inclusion,” Halliday stated in a press release. “Our goal is to create a welcoming space where parents can find support and information.”

The Little Library builds on a SEPAC initiative last year when the SPED parent group collected books for a special needs resource collection for students to check out at the school library, Seekell said.

Unmanned, the Little Library is relying on community members to contribute by donating books or suggesting titles they think may be helpful to others.

On Oct. 20, the Little Library’s official launch was acknowledged with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at the annual SEPAC Fall Festival.

Community members joined the celebration, met fellow supporters and explored the book collection. There also were children’s activities and refreshments.

For more information about the Little Library or how to get involved, Seekell can be reached at eseekell@gmail.com.