Last month I was taking my baby granddaughter for a walk in her stroller in my neighborhood and went down a street I hadn't walked on before. Was I glad I did! I made a discovery that made my heart leap with joy! Do you see the little elevated window box that is next to the mailboxes in the photo above?
It was a "Little Free Library" box!
I have seen this type of free library on other blogs and in online articles, but I never expected to see one here in my community! It's an honor system of "take a book (or two!) and leave a book (or two!)." Usually, someone in a community who have heard about this program, (read the history of it on this link), and will either build a box or buy one, and then register it with the Little Free Library Organization and be its steward. Sometimes stewards do this in memory of someone who was an avid reader/book lover, or they themselves are book lovers, and they will pay for start up on their own, or they find sponsors to help support their cause. Sometimes a local organization which wants to promote literacy will have one built and their members take turns at stewardship. Whatever the reason, it is a wonderful asset to have in a community!
The Little Free Library in my community is a mix of children's literature and adult literature, both paperbacks and hardcover books. So far I've read and returned three books. I hope to contribute more books to the collection as soon as I can. For someone like myself, who walked almost weekly to my local library to pick out new books to read, this has been such a joy! My local public library is now about five miles away, so having this little library just a few minutes from my house has been much easier for me to check frequently. I never know what kind of books I will find inside--it is so much fun!
Is there a Little Free Library near you? To find out check this Google map, and or look at the state by state, and country by country, locations on the left sidebar of the link. The Little Free Library movement has also spread to locations around the world, so if you look at the Google map above, just scroll the page to the left to see where they are in the eastern hemisphere.
To see how easy it is to have your own Little Free Library look at this short video:
Little Free Library Story from Beargrass Media on Vimeo.
I'm so glad to see this trend in sharing books and the love of reading! Do you have a Little Free Library in your neighborhood? Have you read a book lately that you would recommend giving as a gift for Christmas?
Such a wonderful concept and how fun to have one in your community!
ReplyDeleteI had heard about this idea and think it's great. I checked the Google map but we don't have one over here, really none east of I25. I live on the end of a long court with not much traffic and not many children so it wouldn't be very successful to put one in my yard. I am lucky that I live three miles from our awesome public library.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of the Little Free Library before. There is s similar system at the Senior Center, though, where one may bring books no longer wanted, and someone else may take them for reading - no questions asked.
ReplyDeleteHow fun! I just learned about them recently and visited the site that shared how to use them. I am not sure about books being outside in "the environment" so ultimately passed on the idea. It would be very convenient and a super way to pass on some books.
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun discovery for you especially being a reader and with your library a distance. This would be great in our area as our libraries are closed more than normal due to the economy. I should look and see if there is one nearby. Such a great idea.
ReplyDeletePat, what a great idea! And for this free library to be so close to you is even more wonderful. I wonder if there are any Free Libraries around my area. Thanks for sharing, have a happy week!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea, I tend to buy books and when I finish them give them to the local mobile library. We also have a community library over the road from at the village hall
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea! I checked and the closest one to me is about 40 minutes away.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of these, how wonderful. I highly recommend Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts. It will change your way of looking at moments, help you notice your world, lift your head as you learn there is always much to be thankful for. I am also really enjoying her Christmas devotional book, The Greatest Gift. Its a daily read using the entire Bible, from Adam to Jesus. Very short, with great ideas that could be used with children included each day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great concept. Anything to advance the cause of reading and books is good. How fun to find one close to you.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fabulous concept!! I did find a little free library here near Cambridge! The books were in a disused red telephone box! It was wonderful!! You just browsed, sign the book out and et voila! Brilliant! Take care
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What a great idea! I love the idea of recycling books and reading, reading, reading. Wonder what other grand things you will find on your walks with your grand-daughter?!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. Anything to promote literacy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea! I love to read, but don't have much time to do it right now, but I think I'll keep that idea in my mind for the future.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately not, but there are a lot of readers in St. Augustine. Barnes and Noble is a popular hot spot
ReplyDeleteGlad you found this, Pat! It is neat. My SIL and BIL are both librarians.
xo
Sheila
I have never heard of this, I am going to look on the map and see if there is one in my city. How fun for you to find it close by. I love to read and have always been an avid reader.
ReplyDeleteI looked at the map and there are 8 of them in my city. Who knew?!
ReplyDeleteAnother reason I need to move to Colorado, lol. I would LOVE to do this in my town...but fear the red tape involved in getting the permitting to erect the little book hut would be a battle larger than I'm able to wage! Worth a shot, though. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea and so nice for you to have it in your area. I've just recently heard about it and had no idea the movement has spread so much. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI had seen them on blogs also and didn't know until I read your post that they are a network. It is a great idea. I read a lot, mainly library books but I buy books occassionally and after I read them I get rid of them by giving them to Goodwill. I'd just as soon deposit them in one of these.
ReplyDeleteI see from your link that there is one in the Tulsa suburb of Sand Springs. When the ice clears up, I might have to run out there and exchange a few.
That is so neat, Pat. I've never seen anything like that --at least not around here. Love it!!!!
ReplyDeleteHad a nice service for Dad Adams yesterday --and got to see many old friends and family members. We also enjoyed a family lunch together. Dad is in a better place now… Thanks be to God.
Hugs
Betsy
This is such a great idea, Pat. I wish there were something like this in my neck of the woods - although I must add that a branch of my local library is only a couple or three blocks away so one can't have everything. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice find for you.
I have heard about these, too, Pat, and I think they are amazing. I am always moved by people exhibiting a sense of fellowship and community.
ReplyDeleteDays one and two of my holiday home tour are posted. I hope you will be able to visit and for the remainder of the tour days.
How wonderful dear Pat. I love the idea! Glad that you took another road and made this discovery :)
ReplyDeleteI have heard of this wonderful Little Library before and it is truly a brilliant idea! I would imagine it would also work for placing magazines in that little box. I really hate to toss magazines away once I have read them, so I am always donating them to others. I hope that this Little Library spreads to many, many neighborhoods!
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ReplyDeletePat, What a wonderful find. We just opened our beautiful Tenant's
Harbor Library, we had a lovely
open house. Are you getting
the cold yet? Maine is very cold. Happy Holidays. Great post.
yvonne
What a great idea, especially in places like where you are some distance from the council library. I checked the map for Australia but there are not many here yet. None in my state but there is one close to where we will be holidaying in for a few weeks over Christmas.
ReplyDeleteA good book is "The Hare with the Amber Eyes."
ReplyDeleteWhat a novel idea. Kids would love this. Why only kids, all book lovers would love this.
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived at the condo, we had a little library in the pool house much like this. Boy, I sure miss it. This is a great idea for a neighborhood. We are avid readers and would love to exchange books with others.
ReplyDeleteSam
I love these! Wish one existed in my neighborhood!
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