Maybe you’re homesteading on a super rural road and don’t have ready access to a public library. Perhaps you and your neighbors are avid readers without the time to hit up the library regularly. Or, maybe you just want to connect with your community and share your love of good books.
Then, the Little Free Library trend might be up your alley. Anyone can place a “little free library” box in their yard with a handful of used-but-great books and a notebook for folks to jot down their thoughts. It then becomes a take-a-book, leave-a-book place and a way to encourage interaction between neighbors or co-workers (yup, even workplaces are jumping on the bandwagon).
The first of such “little libraries” was created in 2009 by Todd Bol of Wisconsin, in honor of his book-loving mother. He built a schoolhouse-style box and placed it in his front yard, labeled “Free Books.” His friends and neighbors loved it so much that he began creating more to give away. From here, Bol teamed up with Rick Brooks to develop the social enterprise into what it has become today.
Here’s how to start your own:
- Decide who will build and take care of your “library.” Will you be keeping it neat and appealing? Your kids? A retired neighbor? Do you have a neighbor or friend who loves woodcraft projects? Maybe they’d like to put their hands to good use for the cause. To build, there are ideas at the website (as well as an option to purchase one), and Pinterest is full of great plans — even repurposing a cabinet! Just be sure that a freestanding structure is allowed in your town first, since there have been a few zoning issues throughout the country regarding Little Free Libraries.
- Go to the Little Free Library website to register (for a fee) and make your library “official.” You’ll also receive a Steward’s packet and charter sign for your box that’ll help you set everything up.
- Now’s the time to connect with your community. Use flyers, social media, local news media, or anything else you can think of to gather support.
- Once the library is installed, have a grand opening ceremony! What a great excuse for a small block party. Call it a “Bring a Book, Bring a Buck” shindig to collect your first books and money towards registration, have a small “ribbon cutting”, and kick things off by sharing the awesome books you’ll be donating to the cause. The cool thing about these libraries is that, depending on your demographics; these can contain a mix of adult, young adult, and even children’s books.
If you love the idea of a “Little Free Library” but don’t need one in your area, consider sponsoring one for a community in need. It would also be a great “giving back” project for kids, too.
To find out more, check out littlefreelibrary.org or watch this adorable video that explains it far better than we can!
Megan McCoy Dellecese is a school librarian and writer, as well as a loving wife and mother. She enjoys blogging about living an imperfectly simple, green life with her family at Meg, Acting Out and hopes to publish her first children’s book this year.
Photography by Priscilla Matuson
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