Little Free Library?

[fidgiegirl]

The Little Free Library website (http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/)

They are sprouting like weeds in St. Paul, MN! Love these little boxes. It gives me warm fuzzies to see what people can share their bookly wealth. We have at least six now that we could hit any evening on our doggy walk.

I have to admit, at first I thought people would just use them as a book dump and fill them with crap. But that doesn't seem to be happening, or the individuals/organizations who are putting them up are doing a good job of keeping them cleaned up/cleaned out.

Are these catching on where you are? What do you think?

One more fun thing, one of the most beloved teachers from my coworker's youth was a founder of this idea. Neat.

[Rosemary]

I'm trying to get my DH excited about building one! We have scrap wood from our porch construction. We first saw one of these last summer in Milwaukee, and I've wanted one ever since. A couple of our friends have them, and I also suggested to DH that we build one for our church because I think the congregation would absolutely love the idea.

[SteveinMN]

We have one right around the corner from our house. The Little Library, in turn, is right around the corner from the rec center library in the neighborhood. I have to admit I haven't visited the Little Library yet, but I do see many people perusing and, occasionally, restocking (not the owners of the property on which the Library is located). It's A Good Thing.

[fidgiegirl]

You should build it, Rosemary! Carpentry would be a great addition to your already-long list of skills! There is a Little Free Library at the coffee shop I frequent near work, but it's not even a special box, just a shelf for book exchange, as coffeeshops have long had. They do have the "official" plaque from the Little Free Library people on their shelf, though. Book Crossing (http://www.bookcrossing.com/) is the same concept but without the twist of the physical box outdoors.

But the little boxes outside sure are cute, and they make it TRULY free. I mean, if I knew there was a book exchange inside a coffee shop, I might check it out when there buying a drink, but wouldn't probably just march in in order to check out the free book shelf.

[pcooley]

My wife got the student polity at the college where we work to donate money to install a little free library at the charter school my daughter goes to. (They don't have a library, in spite of being the Academy for Technology and the Classics). Then ... a TV guy came in to the office where I work looking for someone to transcribe a quote into ancient Greek for a television show he's working on. He said they screwed up in "Lost" and did not have the right Greek - or whatever language they were working with - and I contacted my wife in the library, and one of her student assistants did it. They paid him $500, and he used the money to buy a little free library for another charter school here in town that doesn't have a library. My daughter reports that her fellow students are pleased to have it.

[Tussiemussies]

Thanks Kelli for mentioning about book crossing. Looks like it would be fun for my nephews to do this summer. Have never heard of it before.....chris

[chrissieq]

My neighbor got one as her Christmas present from her family and it's been open for about 2 weeks. I am a regular user of our neighborhood library but need to take a peak just to see if there's anything I'd like to read.

The cutest one ever is about 5 blocks from here - it looks like a British phone booth - only small and on a post.

[Azure]

This is such a cool concept. Well, both ideas are awesome! I have seen a couple around but the only place I remember specifically is outside the little Korean restaurant we sometimes visit.

I think I might have to sign up for Book Crossing. Thanks, Kelli

[Simplemind]

I love love love them. I am planning my own and have been working on the design. I love gardening so somehow I also want to be able to put extra seed packets along with gardening books.

[ApatheticNoMore]

It's a neat idea. I've seen them - although none so fancy as any of those, not many though, I don't think they are really becoming a trend (probably mostly one of those alternative things liked by peeps into alternative things). None within walking distance of home or work and I sometimes take long walks. I'm probably not going to start driving around just to visit them or anything.

[Rosemary]

You're right, Kelli - I could build it myself... but working with wood and saws is just not something I enjoy, which is why I'm suggesting it to DH, as he does. But although he is interested in the idea, I think I might have to begin it or it will just never happen! I have a vision of our front yard as a flower garden with a bench and a little free library for anyone who wants to partake of them. Right now the flower bed needs re-doing (and ash tree roots are in the way, so it will be tricky), the bench is waiting at the store for a clearance sale, and the library needs building. Another project to be done!

Simplemind ---- Seed packets! Brilliant!!!

[SophiaDev]

I love this idea. Building a free reading culture. Very inspiring. I'd like to make one soon.

[iris lilies]

This guy thought that building a free reading culture was a worthy endeavor:

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrB8peadpJTAXMA5xGjzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBpcGszamw 0BHNlYwNmcC1pbWcEc2xrA2ltZw--/RV=2/RE=1402136346/RO=11/RU=http%3a%2f%2fwww.npr.org%2f2013%2f08%2f01%2f207 272849%2fhow-andrew-carnegie-turned-his-fortune-into-a-library-legacy/RK=0/RS=GpiYPcx7vjp_kmUwwMmqtAv9aVM-https://sp1.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608017724038843841&pid=15.1

http://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/50carnegie/50carnegie.htm

[Gardenarian]

I'm thinking of putting one up at my cabin. It is a small community of around 500, and the bookmobile comes once a week. I'm not sure of the design - I'm thinking larger than most of what I see I see - maybe like a small storage shed?

[Float On]

http://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/

I had fun looking at the map and photos of all the littlefreelibrarys. There aren't any in my town, which is sad.

[kimberlyf0]

We have a few in my town; the closest is at a little local market and I have both borrowed, returned, and donated to it. I think they are a sweet idea.

[OwlGirl]

Wow! How have I never seen these before?

These are really great and would make me so happy to see if I were out and about.