The Jackson Township Friends of the Library will dedicate this sculpture on the library grounds at noon Aug. 1. JACKSON — What began as an idea in the mind of one Eagle Scout has become reality and more.

"The gazebo reading garden at the Jackson Library began as an Eagle Scout project by Andrew McAllister," said Judith Friend, president of the Jackson Township Friends of the Library. "Upon completion of the gazebo and landscaping, it was decided to put a sculpture there as well."

The Friends of the Library raised the money for the sculpture through book sales. The sculpture will be dedicated at noon Aug. 1, and the entire community is invited to attend the event.

After researching many artists, the group decided to work with Richard Rist of the Large Art Co., Baltimore.

Friend said Rist was able to come up with the diversity and creativity the organization was looking for in a sculpture to be placed on the library grounds on Jackson Drive in the Jackson Justice Complex.

The hand-crafted bronze sculpture shows a boy on a bench reading a book and a girl on the bench working on a laptop computer.

Friend said the sculpture is a wonderful addition to the Jackson Library and to the community.

"I have already seen a little child reading a library book to the two statues," she said. "Children appear to be fascinated by the two statues that are like themselves."

Rist said he decided to buck the conventional wisdom that boys are more technically savvy than girls.

"I thought it was a positive message to young boys that it is cool to pick up a book," the artist said. "I have two boys myself, and with competition from sports and video games, it is a real struggle to teach them there is tremendous enjoyment in reading a well-written book."

Last year, Rist said, he was able to convince them that they can go anywhere they want in their own mind with a good book and a little peace and quiet. He said he gave them an example by drawing a contrast to something they could understand.

"I asked, 'What if I told you that my hypothetical friend Tommy got a new bike for his birthday,' " he said. "In your mind, you would develop a picture of what that bike might look like. However, without any detail, that statement doesn't have much impact.

"On the other hand, if I told you that Tommy got a new bike for his birthday and it is bright red with orange flame decals up the side and he had a helmet to match. The handlebars are long with high-polished chrome like a chopper motorcycle, and the tires are fat and knobby, and it has shock absorbers to handle even the toughest terrain, with 15 gears, and it goes so fast you can hear the wind whistle in your ears.

"They quickly agreed that the second mental picture was much different than the first, and now they want a bike like that," he said. "I have tried many strategies to change my kids' preferences, but nothing has had as much impact as that simple example."