A Little Library sits in front of my house today.
My family gave it to me for Christmas.
I’m utterly charmed.
And so are my neighbors!
What is a Little Library?
It’s basically a lending box you place in front of your home or business to share books.
Two other Little Libraries reside within a few blocks of my house and I visit them regularly.
Not being able to enter my public library was a challenge in 2020. This is the longest period of time in my entire life I haven’t entered a library.
There’s a difference between browsing and hunting and while I’m grateful I can “order” books to be held, I miss just looking around.
The Little Library down the street helped me get past that.
They’ve been sources of books for me and the children in my life to read.
Basic facts about owning one
People can take books at will. They’re all free to share.
The library is open as long as it’s got books to share.
Don’t put out books you want returned.
You own it and can obtain one from anywhere you like.
My family bought mine through Share with Others, and they decorated it.
My husband waterproofed it, dug the hole, and placed the Little Library in the ground.
Some cities may have zoning issues and you need ensure you don’t hit water or gas lines.
It’s courteous to check with your neighbors before you erect one on your property. (Make sure, too, you know where the property line is.)
Where do the books come from?
What? Books don’t flood into your house from everywhere?
We have stacks all over the place.
With the closure of our libraries 10 months ago, my ability to donate books to the Friends of the Library ended.
Friends have been moving–and giving me books to donate.
My neighbor was thrilled when the Little Library went up. “Finally, I can clear our my kids’ rooms and donate all those children’s books!”
Children in my life regularly pass along books they’ve read, don’t like, or don’t have room to store.
The Little Library had only been up two hours before I realized several people had made donations.
I did prime the pump with several (signed) copies of my own authored books.
What if you object to a donation?
Well, if that happens, I can pass the book along to the library at the top of the hill.
I could put up a notice reminding visitors that children live across the street and may visit.
If it’s really offensive, well, one hates to be a censor, but . . . the neighbor’s recycle bin frequently sits just opposite the site.
What I love about my Little Library
Besides the idea, I love the creativity my family used in decorating it.
Like the birdhouses that line our back fence, this library is visible out the front window whenever I walk down the interior stairs.
It’s colorful and covered in special words, memes, and decorations.
The back quote is from Oswald Chambers:
All the other symbols represent family members.
They asked me to guess which one went with whom. It was easy.
The two sides incorporate children’s book characters my family particularly loves.
“I just looked at the books you gave us,” my daughter-in-law laughed before painting them in.
The west panel
Can you guess the characters on the west side?
The best two-year-old birthday present. We wore out five copies.
A British fellow (with marmalade).
A king punished without dinner (or not).
A trio of good friends. We went through three copies of one book.
(Go, Dog, Go; Paddington Bear; Max of Where the Wild Things Are; Lowly Worm, Huck, and the clever Goldbug of Cars and Trucks and Things that Go!)
The east panel
An adventurous French-speaker.
Another book lover. We loved his PBS show, too.
A far too curious simian. Why would anyone keep him at home?
An artist who wields crayons.
(Babar; Arthur; Curious George; Harold of the purple crayon.)
Celebrating the written word!
That’s what this Little Library means to me.
If you’re interested in learning more, check out this website which explains how to start your own and includes maps to local versions in your neighborhood.
And if you see one, drop off or pick up a book.
It’s all joy.
Tweetables
The joy of a Little Library in your own front yard. Click to Tweet
What’s a Little Library and what can you do with one? Click to Tweet
What a thoughtful, marvelous gift! I have wanted to do this for awhile, you have inspired me to install one at our new home! There is one on our corner here and it has been so helpful this last year!
It is simply charming and it makes me smile all the time.
i was blessed to visit your little book house on line think I like the idea but wonder we live in the country and the road is narrow I’ll keep thinking about it and see.
John–read the comment below–Cheryl’s church has one. I’m going to suggest to mine. 🙂
Beautiful and creatively decorated. Our church has one now. (It sits in a neighborhood.) 🙂
Having one at a church is a great idea! Hmmmmmm