Check Out Our Member Stories

Supporting small businesses nationwide

Read More
Learn More About Our Focus Areas

Making an impact through commercial loan opportunities

Learn More
Get to Know Self-Help

Explore why we do what we do

Learn More
Read Our Annual Report

See the numbers of how we supported our communities

Learn More
Connect with Our Team

Invest in the Self-Help mission and support local communities

Reach Out
Check Out Our Member Stories

Supporting small businesses nationwide

Read More
Read Our Annual Report

See the numbers of how we supported our communities

Learn More
Invest in What We Do

Connect with our team to see how you can be a part of the mission

Reach Out
Back to Blog Home

Neighborhood Bookshelf at Self-Help Credit Union in Miami Springs Promotes Literacy and Community Connection through Reading

By Staff
January 22, 2024

Local community reading initiatives

[Miami, FL] — Embracing the power of literacy and community connection, Self-Help Credit Union is proud to host a Neighborhood Bookshelf at its Miami Springs branch. Located at 101 Curtiss Parkway, it is one of 20 Neighborhood Bookshelf locations in Miami-Dade County, Florida – and the only one in Miami Springs.

The Neighborhood Bookshelf serves as a convenient and accessible resource for residents to borrow and exchange books, fostering a sense of community and promoting a love for reading. This initiative aligns with Self-Help's mission to contribute positively to the well-being of the neighborhoods it serves.

Self-Help opened its Neighborhood Bookshelf in collaboration with the Miami-Dade Public Library System’s (MDPLS) Miami Springs Branch Library (www.mdpls.org/branch-miami-springs). The bookshelves are an extension of the library and allow folks to come in and browse a selection of books, and even check them out if they have a MDPLS library card.

"Self-Help believes in the power of education and community. By partnering with the Miami Springs Branch Library, we are proud to provide a space where residents can easily access a diverse range of books and promote a culture of lifelong learning," said Sam Chesser, Self-Help Credit Union South Florida Regional Manager.

The Neighborhood Bookshelf features a wide variety of books for all ages, from children's literature to adult fiction and non-fiction. Community members are encouraged to take a book, leave a book, and share their favorite reads with others.

“The goal is to create a vibrant and dynamic exchange of ideas and stories within the community,” said Chesser.  “Working together, we can create a stronger, more connected community that values the importance of education and the joy of reading.”

About Self-Help Credit Union

Self-Help Credit Union was chartered in 1983 to build a network of branches that partner with working families and communities often underserved by the financial marketplace. With over $1.8 billion in assets and serving more than 89,000 members in 37 branches – eight in Florida, one in Georgia, 23 in North Carolina, four in South Carolina, and one in Virginia— Self-Help Credit Union is one of the fastest-growing community development financial institutions in the country. It is part of the Self-Help family of nonprofit organizations whose collective mission is to create and protect ownership and economic opportunity for all. For over 40 years, the national Center for Community Self-Help and its affiliates have provided more than $11 billion in financing to help more than 168,000 borrowers buy homes, start and grow businesses and strengthen community resources. For more information, visit www.self-help.org.

Contact Us