Little Free Library
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Be sure to check out the update at the bottom of the post.
My husband and I were headed home from a morning of curb shopping when he spotted a Little Free Library a block from our house! Do you know about these?
Basically it’s a little weather-proof box filled with books that are free for the taking. You can borrow books, and bring them back, or you can even keep them. They just ask that you add books to the box. “Take a book, return a book” is their motto.
When I looked inside the box, there were nine books and one DVD.
I took two home with me …
and I took five back. They didn’t have any kids’ books yet, so I figured I’d get their collection going.
I absolutely love the Little Free Library concept, and had been thinking about adding one to our yard. When my husband worked outside the home, we set up a free box at his office, with a “take what you need; leave what you don’t” motto, and it was a big hit with his co-workers.
I checked the LittleFreeLibrary website, and there aren’t any libraries listed in our town, so I’m thinking we’ve found the perfect project for my oldest daughter’s Girl Scout Silver Award. She loves books and recycling as much as I do.
If you’re interested in building a Little Free Library, or just want to see if there are any in your area, check out LittleFreeLibrary.org.
Update:
Sept 19, 2016
Well, there are now two more Little Free Libraries in the world. My daughters did indeed decide to build libraries for their Girl Scout Silver Award project. They spent the last couple months planning and building their libraries, and we installed them last weekend.
The first one was installed in front of the junior high school in our town. When I went to take pictures of it this afternoon, someone had already taken some books and replaced them with new ones!
The second library was installed in front of a thrift store/community outreach program near our cabin. The library in that town is only open 15 hours a week, so we’re hoping this will help to fill the gap. With all the Amish in the area, we’re looking forward to the first time we spot a buggy parked at our Little Free Library.
The girls were able to build their libraries almost completely from scrap. We just had to buy one board. And the asphalt shingles that they used to roof them? Those came from a curb pile. Someone threw away a whole, unopened bundle, and we rescued it.
If you have scrap wood taking up space in your garage, this would be a great use for it. I’d love to see pictures if you decide to build one.
My son is going to build several for his Boy Scout Eagle project!!! I love these!
These are wonderful! We have one in my town, and this reminds me that I’ve been wanting to stock some books for it, thanks!
We have a TON of them in our area…LOVE them…can never have too many;)
These are really big in the UK.
Glad that you got a few going in your town.
God bless.
My neighbors around the block have one of these set up. Its such a cool idea. I’ve also seen a similar idea for a little food pantry that looks kinda neat.
I hadn’t heard of Little Free Pantry project. I just Googled it. Very cool. My oldest daughter has been talking about doing something around food waste for her Gold Award project. I’ll have to show her these.
That would make a great project!
We have two in our neighborhood but I have only checked out one. I keep saying that I am going to stop at the other one but I haven’t found anything there that I wanted yet. There are so many books I should drop off though!!! I have a book problem and have trouble getting rid of them!