As a reader, I’ve always loved libraries. I remember when the library opened in my small town. I was eight and the teacher took us there on a class trip and I thought it was the most wonderful place. We didn’t have a lot of books at home, just the usual Dick and Jane and Golden Book series, and here was a whole building full of books you could take home for several weeks. I read my way through the children’s side and had graduated to the adult section by age eleven. My mother would take us to the library every Saturday to stock up, and I read my way through many a long hot summer. I still remember the familiar smell of books and the waft of cool air that hit you walking through the door, as the library was one of the few places in town with air conditioning. Of course living in the country, we needed a ride there, so imagine the convenience of having a free little library in your own neighbourhood.
Free little libraries are small neighbourhood boxes where you can borrow, take, donate or share a book…..all kinds of books. They have been popping up all over lately, just like the spring flowers, but as they are a year round venture, they must be weatherproof and snow proof. There are at least 30 registered locations in my county alone – one of the most utilized ones is near a local campsite.
I’ve been thinking about having a little library since the beginning of the pandemic, which the libraries were all closed and I found myself lending out books to neighbours I met while walking, who complained about having nothing to read, and is there anything worse for a reader.
It’s a nice way to share your love of reading, expand book access, and meet and get to know your neighbours. Last year the local Literary organization was so stockpiled with donated books that they offered temporary pop-up libraries at parks and beaches when the weather was nice, using plastic recycling blue boxes.
The Free Little Library organization (take a book, share a book) has a website, (see link) where you can officially register as a book steward (with a plaque number) if you wish, but I think I would prefer to just put one up and see how it goes. My neighbourhood is an old established one, with a mixture of retired folks and young families, but it’s a cul-de-sac, and I don’t want too much of a commitment until I see how much it will be used.
Their website says they have over 100,000 registered stewards in over 100 countries around the globe. They also have a page where they sell pre-made libraries and kits – see link – averaging around $350 plus another $175 for the spike and post. I like this blue one made out of composite so it doesn’t need painting, but it’s sold out.
These are their revenue generators, but a bit pricey, but they also have a page with a list of ideas for making your own, (see link – little libraries on a shoestring budget) such as this one here, which appears to be a storage cupboard propped up on a stool.
The local literacy organization was partnering with volunteers and high school shop classes to make some of these book sharing boxes. They were sponsoring a contest, which I didn’t win, but garage sale season is coming up, so I’ll keep my eyes open for something suitable….and books of course. They can hold up to 40 books, so I have some book shopping to do.
Thrift stores are good sources for books, plus I went to the big Rotary Book sale last month, for the $10 stuff a bag day and stocked up. I bought mostly books that I have read and enjoyed, although the children’s selection was picked over by then.
Warm weather will be here soon, and I’m looking forward to reading outside again on the deck.
thehomeplaceweb 
I love these little libraries which seem to be popping up everywhere.
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I love these. There are a few in my neighborhood too!
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The idea has not caught on here yet – I would fully support them if I saw any around for I think this is a wonderful idea. As it is, I am slowly sifting through my collection of novels – and children’s books – to donate to the two main charity shops in town. This looks like a fun jigsaw puzzle to build 🙂
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I was so disappointed I didn’t win the contest, especially as I don’t think they had many entries due to the lack of advertising because they only gave a week’s notice, but I’m going to stockpile some books first before I decide what to do next.
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We have quite a few LFL around town and they are usually stuffed full. I rent, but I would love to put you up if I could.
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💗💗
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I too am a reader and spent most of my free time in the library while I was in high school. Trusting you’ll find the perfect item this summer to convert into your mini library as you explore local garage sales…
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I hope so…..I want it to look nice but don’t want to spend a fortune…..I would rather spend the money on books!
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I wished we lived closer…I would build one for you in a heartbeat. DM
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Thanks Doug for the virtual offer! I’m sure I can find a local carpenter or handyman, or even the people who built the one for the contest. There’s a Restore store here where people drop off old cupboards and reno stuff which is sometimes useful for things to refurbish.
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Perfect!
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I live about equidistance from three Free Little Libraries. They are fun to contribute to and to peruse. The ones around here are heavy with kids books.
[A piece of advice told to me by a woman who has one of these in her front yard: people will come and take all the books, that they then sell. To stop that you can get a rubber stamp made that says something to the effect of ‘This book is part of the Free Little Library system.’ [Can’t remember exact words.] She stamps all the books title page with her stamp. It has slowed down her *theft* problem.]
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Wow, I never thought of that, but good idea. I see people buying stuff at the thrift stores and then reselling them at their own garage sales or online venues. I have a box of fancy stickers that I bought from bookoutlet for putting inside books, that would do the trick. Thanks for the tip Ally!
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I keep telling myself I will build one of these – I just love the whole concept! Maybe this will be the year?
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If you can build it yourself go for it!
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I have seen a few of the little free libraries while traveling but none in our neighborhood. Fortunately I have sisters and an Aunt to trade books with. I’m glad you found the Jan Karron book. I hope you enjoy it (the series) as much as I did.
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I thought of you when I saw it at the big book sale as I remmembered you saying you liked it, but I haven’t started it yet. It was the first one in the series. I have 4 library books out right now…
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Joni, I’m sorry you didn’t win the contest and that would have been great if you won, given the price of the Little Free Libraries, especially the deluxe version for all-weather use. There is a woman about a half-mile from me who has one in her front yard and it is dedicated to her young daughter who died, but it is not all kid’s books. At Heritage Park, they have two of them – one is for kids books only in the Botanical Gardens and the other is for all ages in the historical part of the park. I think it is a wonderful idea and a chance to share books without spending a fortune on new ones as an avid reader like yourself will eventually have read everything (of interest to you) in your local library.
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It is a good idea Linda….but I have not read everything in the local library and it is a very small place, but that’s a good point, as when I was younger I had read everything, as they never or very seldom ever rotated their stock and you could not order anything new in! Most of the books I get from the library now are ordered in by me online using my library card, as you can reserve online, even new releases which will be coming out in the next few months. So a popular author like John Grisham or any of my murder mystery favorites I can sometimes be the first person in line when it comes out. The library used to do up a list of new releases six months ahead which was very helpful for pre-ordering. Plus all sixteen county branches have interlibrary loan, so when you order online if it’s already in stock at a different branch they sent it to your branch with delivery 2 or 3 times a week. You can specify what branch you want it delivered to. You can order DVD’s too. So libraries have really improved since I was a teenager, thank god. Of course, this is all paid for by our property taxes, as libraries are a joint county responsibility, but well worth it. My local library is very well utilized for such a small place. You mentioned you had problems funding your schools, then there may not be the money for libraries either?
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I think our libraries are improved from when I was in school and used them a lot for term papers and the like, then later for reading. My mom and I did that as well with requesting books and would request them separately so we got our time (maybe a week or ten days) for each of us. But I remember my mom would read it first, giving me the larger part of the back-to-back time to read. I would have to take the book in and return it in my mom’s name, then still holding the book, say I was the next one on the list. We did that for years and supplemented the library books with paperbacks from favorite authors. I think our library now has e-books as well. I have a library card which I got just in case I had an issue with my computer or power loss and had to finish something (since I’ve worked from home) but never used the PCs there. I am not going to do that now – if I can’t do the work, it is a temporary issue (attitude adjustment over the years). I think there are free books and magazines on Amazon – I didn’t really look into it because I believe reading is on a Kindle or you download the Kindle app on your computer. I can’t get the regular books read, but I am positive that’s an option. When I first got Prime, I looked at all the perks/freebies and saw reading material. They are also having some book sales at our library – once a year and these are mostly donated books of which they have duplicates. We did funding issues for schools, but I don’t know if that is true now, but my first two years of high school we could only take four classes and there was no sports, music, art, drama, driver’s training – bare bones school because the millage did not pass. We got everything back for senior year.
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That’s good to know it’s well funded and used. I never got into e-books either. I figure I do enough screen time, and sometimes my eyes are sore/dry from looking at it too much. I don’t use the computers at our library either, simply because I don’t like the idea of germs and that was before Covid. Only if my computer was down/in the shop for a lengthy period and I absolutely had to check my mail. Ours used to have a free/donated cart but got rid of it with Covid. My neighbour and I sometimes swap books as we are allowed to have them for 3 weeks out. They have just restarted in-person book club this spring, but it’s not for me right now. Most of the books they do, I’ve already read some time ago and sometimes don’t remember enough about to comment much. I’m certainly not finding much to watch on Netflix – kind of disappointed that there is so much on it, and none of it good or appealing. CNN full of the leaked abortion opinion from the Supreme Court – well what did they expect when Trump appointed those judges/candidates who lied in the questioning sessions. Not too much integrity there.
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I think twice about everything since COVID but I was also a bit of a germaphobe before. And I used to spent half of Saturday running errands and paying cash at each stop: nursery, hardware store, card store, grocery store, pharmacy for my Mom … now one-stop shopping at Meijer with their credit card, so not touching money. I need to get a car wash and will have to break down and use cash to do so.
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I used to use cash more too, now seldom do, just a few smaller purchases, and usually tell them to keep the change. And essential errands only – I read a totally depressing article online this morning about variant B3 or 4 or 5….anyway it’s in Europe already and people who have already had B1 or 2 seem to have no immunity, athough vaccinated people have some. It will never end….
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I also heard something on the news just this morning about a B4 and B5 for down the road that will be problematic. They said we are going to have a surge again and the new variant will hit in Fall when we’re back inside and it’s cooler. Not too promising to hear that and they did say they hoped before any major surge we would have a better understanding of an annual COVID shot like we get the flu shot. But the flu shot this year was not even half effective. Our cases are rising in Michigan, so I’m now two weeks out with the booster, so should be okay … I don’t want to do any more errands than necessary and hopefully none using cash and will stay masked up, even for walking. The doctor who gave this info said we cannot act like it is the first time we have dealt with COVID and if vaxxed/boosted we should have concerns, but this will not be another lockdown. Also as to handling money, I have to get a car wash – no choice in that matter. Maybe I ought to wash it myself when I get the hose out and turn the water on. I even looked into getting a card just for the car wash but this car wash changes owners/companies all the time, so I’ll bite the bullet and pay cash I guess. I think/hope the Winter salt and slush is gone until November?
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Forgot to add – yes, the whole debacle with the leaked Supreme Court Opinion. Our Govrnor has taken measures to appeal it in our state and if Trump had not hurried and gotten those last two candidates in (neither all that qualified), this would likely not have happened.
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You would not see any of that in Canada….nary a peep re abortion rights from any political side….it’s a non-issue I wonder why it’s such an important and divisive topic in the US…..I find it kind of shocking how many states plan on banning it altogether.
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Yes, the rallies and the divisiveness over this leaked document have been #1 on the news, knocking the ware in Ukraine and the economy down to #2 and #3 respectively. I heard Hillary Clinton talking about it – she was pretty fired up and said “this is just the beginning of other big changes; wait and see!” Big companies across the U.S. are already retooling their healthcare policies and handbooks to allow employees to be able to cross state lines if they want to obtain an abortion. They are assuming the opinion will not change from now until it is published the end of June when the Justices break for the Summer.
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I can see other rights falling like dominos….
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Yes, I agree with her too.
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Love the Little Libraries, we have many of them in our neighborhood. So fun to see what books people leave. You should start one, it would be fun.
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I was disappointed I didn’t win the contest, that would have simplified things, plus I need to book shop, but someday yes…
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Alas, the properties in our neighborhood are too large for a Little Library to make sense (ditto trick-or-treating). Love the concept, though. The lion’s share of my reading is electronic these days – through my Kindle – but I’d still enjoy the opportunity to browse real books. I spent a lot of time in libraries as a kid (“free babysitting”). Even in high school, when it wasn’t cool to be in the library at all, I couldn’t resist the chance to find a good read to keep me company on the bus ride home.
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That’s the downside and upside of country living – wide open spaces and no neighbours! I never spent any time in my high school library – there was nothing there worth reading, just cubicles for studying. I wondered why they even called it a library at all?
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I cannot help it, but every time I look at one of these I think of the harm to the books from the humidity. Yes, I know people kept books for centuries before air conditioning became a thing, but I see moisture traps.
Beyond that, I like the idea, but am afraid that there are those out there who delight in ruining a good thing by theft or vandalism. Yes, I’m Mr. Downer this morning. 🙂
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You have a valid point about the humidity JP, but they must be fairly air tight to be snow and weatherproof? Although when you open the door some moisture might come in on a bad day. At least the ones which are $500 from the website, would have to be well made for the price they are charging. As for the theft/vandalism, Ally made the same point above, that people steal and resell the books, and suggested I make sure to stamp them inside….something I would never have thought of….both good points. Not likely I will get to it this summer anyway.
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