The Rev. Bill Perry has many titles associated with his name: husband, father, grandfather, retired pastor, pastor emeritus of Statesboro First Baptist Church, interim pastor, walker, columnist for Statesboro Magazine, avid reader.

Now, he can add “librarian.”

Perry’s “Little Free Library” is open for business.

Perched at the edge of his front yard, next to the road, is a structure that resembles a large birdhouse from a distance and can hold about 25 books. A sign on the front says, “Little Free Library” and on both sides, a sign reads, “Take a book, return a book.”

Perry says he first learned about “little free libraries” about a year ago. He began to see mentions of people putting boxes out in their front yard with books they no longer wanted or needed and encouraged others to help themselves to the books.

“I decided that was something I could do to make it easier for people to read,” he said.

He had a friend in Claxton, Quinn Tanner, build his “library” box, and Perry has just begun placing books in his free library.

“A substitute mail carrier put our mail in it one day,” Perry said with a chuckle. “It began to make sense when I put a sign on it. Every day, there’s some who stop by and get a book. Now, some people are putting their books in there.”

Perry added that he could obviously never have the selection the public library offers, but he enjoys making it easier for others to enjoy a good book. He began collecting books about six months ago in preparation of his free library, books from yard sales or thrift stores. “I look for books that are good books at a really good price.”

Perry hopes others will offer their own “free library,” and several friends have made mention that they just might do so. The man with many titles has many titles and genres to offer in his “Little Free Library,” and on any given day, patrons can choose from fiction, biography, life and faith, children’s and more.