Mission
Create . Sell . Donate
Our goal is simple: provide books to our community. We create and sell items with all profits going towards the purchase of books and maintenance of our Little Free Libraries around Lakeland, Florida.
What are Little Free Libraries? Little Free Library (LFL) is a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota. LFL sells book sharing boxes and also donates them full of books to underserved urban, suburban, rural, and Indigenous communities. Check out the map of libraries here: https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/.
We currently have three Little Free Libraries at Cob & Pen, Swan Brewing, and Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine.
Book donations are accepted on our behalf at Whatever Tees at 4020 Kidron Road, Suite 6, Lakeland, FL 33811, Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 4:00. All our products are available for purchase at Whatever Tees.
Book donations are also accepted via our “bookmobile” which rotates between local businesses monthly. Check our calendar and socials to find out its current location. Contact us if you are interested in hosting the bookmobile at your business!
We also have a book club and are launching other community events. Please check back soon for updates on those!
“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”
Dead poets society
History
Dead Swan Society was originally intended to be a literary animal- a journal, event series, or something of that nature which never materialized. Instead, we found more inspiration and motivation to raise money for local charities, which then morphed into our Little Free Library projects. Our name was inspired by Dead Poet’s Society, the movie, and its message of the urgency of change and art, breaking out of the mold of what’s usual and focusing on what is truly important to you.
OUR TEAM
Marcella Benton
Co-FOUNDER, captain
Marcella spends most of her time running Whatever Tees, a screen printing & embroidery business, with her husband, Tim, and taking care of her dogs and four cats. She also writes poetry in her spare time. Some of her publications can be seen at these links: http://www.juked.com/ , Black Fox Literary Magazine, https://www.swwim.org/.
Timothy Benton
Co-FOUNDER, captain
A born entrepreneur, Timothy Benton started a lawn care business in his preteens, a skate company, First Coast, in his teens, and his screen printing and embroidery business, Whatever Tees, in 2011. He spent his younger years in Vero Beach and now lives in Lakeland, FL. He also runs a second business, Mad Props Drone Marketing.
Whitney Noel Watts
Co-FOUNDER, captain
Born and raised in Valrico, Florida, Whitney recently relocated to 29 Palms, CA with her husband, Shane, her dog, formerly and currently known as Prince, and her cats, Bianca and Esteban. Whitney received her Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from Hillsborough Community College in 2011 and her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of South Florida. In her spare time, she enjoys running, painting and spending time with her family and friends.
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