Little Free Library
Guest Post: Share books in your community
Vicki, an HGGH Facebook page fan in Minnesota, posted a picture of her Little Free Library to the page a few days ago and I was so inspired by her, I asked her to guest post about her project.
It’s no surprise that I’m into community building activities and informal sharing opps. After Vicki agreed to be featured as a guest post’er, I received yesterday’s GOOD Magazine The Daily GOOD email (a daily digest featuring one good thing a day), and they too are spreading the good word on sharing books in the community. Without further ado, please welcome Vicki to the guest post fold!
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I live in Roseville, Minnesota and in November both the Star Tribune and the St Paul Pioneer Press featured stories about the libraries that were starting to pop up around town. I immediately decided to put one up, in fact, I placed the post in the ground just after I read the story. (Winter was coming and I wanted get it into the ground before it froze.)
I love spreading the Little Free Library message. The idea started in nearby Hudson WI and Madison WI by Todd Bol and Rick Brooks as way to promote reading, literacy and community involvement. Their website has a lot of information about how to start one. I downloaded the basic plans from the website and started scrounging for supplies. It took me a few weeks to build it with my limited carpentry skills but I think it turned out well. I might have to redo the acrylic window on the door since I cut it a little small. The Little Free Library sends you a sign with a number when you register with them. Mine is #300. I’m planning on adding a couple more signs that say ‘take a book, read!’ on the sides so people walking by are encouraged to check it out (literally).
;)
I had seen a box in St Paul with a solar panel to light the interior, so I added one to mine as well. I painted the exterior of my library to match my house and stocked it with about 15-20 books from my personal library, placing a bookmark I made inside each that tells the LFL story and invites participation. The initial books ranged from kids and young adult books, romance, mysteries, a couple of cookbooks, books with home tips and green cleaning ideas.
Since mine was installed a couple of weeks ago, I’ve had a handful of thank you notes in my mailbox. Three different people have knocked on my door to express their delight and thank me for putting it up, all neighbors I’ve never met before.
I live on a walking path around McCarrons Lake and there are a lot of people going by on foot, many stop to take a look. I often see people walking away looking at a book they’ve taken and new books are showing up every day from other people. I add a few every few days, too. Looking forward to springtime when there are more people out and about.
Community Building, Guest Posts, Reading, Sharing
Reader Comments (10)
What a great idea! I love this!
This is such a cool idea, I love the community sourcing feel of these kinds of projects, because it is so powerful and can have a major impact on people you know. It doesn't look like there are any in my state yet, so it would be neat to be a trailblazer!
In many ways, I think this decentralization is going to be more and more essential going forward!
Agreed. Finding new ways to exchange "things" (including food!) that empowers people and de-values monetary dollars IS the way forward. We need to reclaim the commons and I think words/books should be part of that. High five for equitable access!
This is amazing.
Kate, Vicki and Hip Girls,
First, thanks for the fab posts on Little Libraries. We love seeing these things, especially when you report about how people seem to like the idea and are doing creative stuff to make it happen. The solar power is on my list of fave innovations along with the bookmarks and your fine selection of books. We'll be thanking you on our website, too, by referring people who could use a little more hipitude. :) In fact, it would be great to have a network (starting with one would be fine) of hggh Litlle Libraries full of cookbooks, hot tips, commentary, novels, and related materials that women and men in the know might be able to find on the Little Free Library Google Map. You may have noticed that the map already has GPS coordinates, so you could even have a geocache of hggh prizes. Shoot...I'd seek it out myself! Anyway, thanks so much for the kudos. Vicki, you currently sit on the right hand of the goddess in my book...which we hope you will find eventually in a Little Library at an exotic location. Just today we got an inquiry from Beijing...Ding how!
We have something like this in Chicago. Sadly, people put their trash in them :(
I'm from Minnesota, too, and I just saw one of these when I was out walking in my neighborhood yesterday! I hadn't heard of it before that, but it is such a great idea!
i love this!! i am keeping my eyes out to see if there is a good place to put one of these in my little town!
l heard about this venture on CBC radio this morning and l would like to build one for my front lawn. l think it is a great way to share one's love of reading. l need the info. on how to make one - where do l get the email address? What does URL mean? Phoebe Mar.21/12
Phoebe, visit Little Free Library for info. A URL is just a web address or link.