Anne here, and today I'm talking about a phenomenon that's caught my eye recently — Street Libraries, also called Little Free Libraries. A street library is a little collection of books set up in a public place — for instance your front yard where it is accessible from the street — for people to borrow, or swap or simply to take a book.
There are no rules, nobody checks the books in or out — it's all on a trust system. The books come, and the books go. And with any luck, new ones will appear. To quote Street Libraries Australia: "Street Libraries are a window into the mind of a community . . . They are a symbol of trust and hope – a tiny vestibule of literary happiness."
It's a lovely idea, I think. I first noticed one at the Queen Victoria Market — a big traditional undercover marketplace in the centre of Melbourne. Tucked in behind a row of fruit and vegetable stalls was a large wooden cabinet with open doors displaying a range of books. (Unfortunately my photo turned out poorly so I can't show it to you.)
As I watched, people came up, flipped through the books, selected one and left. Were they pinching books? If they were, nobody seemed to care. And then I realized— it was a street library.
According to Wikipedia, "The first Little Free Library was built in 2009 by Todd Bol in Hudson, Wisconsin. He mounted a wooden container designed to look like a one-room schoolhouse on a post on his lawn and filled it with books as a tribute to his mother, who was a book lover and school teacher." And from there, the idea went global.
Little free libraries has a FaceBook page
Some people have gone to great lengths to design and build charming little street libraries — the ones on this page are but a small collection. Google the term and see all the delightful street libraries that will appear.
Of course a good Little Street Library needs to be weather proof, and pest proof, and hopefully attractive. There are DIY Build your own street library websites and classes. Here's another. Pinterest is awash with ideas and plans
But you don't have to have anything permanent if you don't want to. Author Julie Cohen was clearing out some books recently, and put a small bookshelf out on the footpath, with a sign saying "Please take as many books as you like—but leave me the shelf."
She said : "I filled it with books I've enjoyed but which I know I'll probably never read again. (I always need more space for books—I bought five last week.)
All day, people walked past and took books. My neighbours took children's stories; a stranger picked up all the travel guides to places we've been. A blonde woman took five and said "I was looking for books for my holiday." So I handed her another one that I'd particularly enjoyed.
Every time I looked out my window, someone different was in front of my house, reading. I refilled the shelves twice.
At about 8 pm, there was a knock on the door, and when we opened it, no one was there, but the bookshelf had been placed in front of our door. Every book gone."
Isn't that a lovely story? She put it on her facebook page, and when I wrote to ask for permission to use her photo, she said, "That photo had nearly 100 shares on Facebook, but on Twitter, it went a bit viral and was seen over 330,000 times and I had people from all over the world get in touch with me about it. The power of books!"
So, what about you — had you heard about street libraries before? Do you like the idea or not? Are there any little street libraries near you? I know many of us are practically drowning in books — would you want to start a street library, or maybe use the Julie Cohen method?
I love Little Free Libraries! Two years ago, authors Nancy Naigle and Kelsey Browning (who co-wrote The Granny Series of books) took a 2600 mile, 16 state road trip, stopping at Little Free Libraries along the way, taking photos, videos, and dropping off books. It's documented in photo albums on their Facebook pages. Some of the street libraries they visited were AMAZING!
About 18 months ago, my city erected a Little Free Library at the entrance to our Community Garden. It's only a mile from my condo so I visit often, leaving books and occasionally taking one. It gives me joy to know a book I've enjoyed will hopefully do the same for someone else, perhaps someone who cannot afford to buy it herself.
Posted by: PJ Ausdenmore | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 04:10 AM
What a wonderful blog, Anne! And what fabulous creativity for the little libraries. I love the idea—as you say, the power of books and reading! We have a "little library" at my beach club, and I love adding books, and clearly other people do too! It's fun watching the constantly changing variety of titles!
I hope the trend catches on. Reading is such a joy—the more people who discover that, the better!
Posted by: Andrea Penrose | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 04:27 AM
I have seen these before and I think they are wonderful - especially in areas that don't have access to free public libraries. I have also seen similar boxes with non-perishable food items donated for people who might need them.
As far as I know, we don't have any street libraries in my neighborhood. If we did, I'm sure I would have books to donate. As it is, I usually donate my extra books to my public library. If they don't use the books, they have a bin where they sell extra books for pennies on the dollar. I always check it. I've found some real gems there. And the money is used to enhance the extra programs they provide.
I think the street libraries (and the food boxes) can only enhance the sense of community. We need that in this day and age.
Posted by: Mary T | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 04:38 AM
Wow, PJ -- what a wonderful road trip that must have been. I'm sure you keep your own Little Free Library well stocked. I keep meaning to take some of my books to the Street Library at the Vic Market, but I usually forget -- having fruits and vegies and cheese and things on my mind, instead of books.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 05:31 AM
Thanks, Andrea -- it's a great idea, isn't it? Love that you keep stocking your local little library. The more people who read the better.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 05:32 AM
It's a wonderful initiative, Mary, I agree. Reading is a human right, I think, and the more books available to people the better
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 05:36 AM
My sisters and I were camping at Chattahoochee Bend State Park (Georgia) this summer and found they had a Little Free Library next to the bath house. That was quite a surprise but a very nice one. It had a nice selection of adult and children's books.
Luckily we had books to donate because we did Sister's Book Swap while we were camping. There were books that had reached the end of the line and were needing new homes. One of those unplanned, serendipitous moments that are so perfect.
One of my sister's in Carrollton "manages" a Little Free Library which is next to the 18 mile Green Beltway that people walk/bike on. She is constantly collecting books for it.
Posted by: Vicki L. | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 07:45 AM
There are quite a few of these within walking distance of my office - so I can enjoy browsing on my lunch hour stroll. Love the idea of the temporary set-up to share books though - as I might more practically be able to do that in my neighborhood, than to set up a permanent one.
Posted by: Amy J | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 08:23 AM
Author Jamie Ford mentioned these little free libraries on his Facebook page--I think he left ARCs of his next book in a few of them. They're so cute! We don't have any in my neighborhood, but our library system has put together a really cool thing for the summer called the Subway Library, where you can download short stories or longer books by connecting to the wi-fi on the subway.
Posted by: Michelle Athy | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 09:52 AM
Anne, I love Julie Cohen's story of having three bookcases worth of books taken--and the little bookcase itself politely put back on her front step. *G* I exercise at a Curves and there' a tall bookcase there for swapping books back and forth. So nice. We get enough rain in this part of the world that being undercover makes sense.
Posted by: Mary Jo Putney | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 12:25 PM
I know that they exist theoretically, but I've never really looked for one. I often take the books that I don't want to keep and give them to the library but I love this idea even more. I went to littlefreelibrary.org and found the nearest one on the map. It's about 2 miles from my house so I'll take my contributions and leave them for someone else to enjoy. Thanks for highlighting this, it absolutely didn't occur to me.
Posted by: StephanieL | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 01:02 PM
Thanks for a fun post, Anne! I enjoyed hearing about the LFL road trip as well as Julie Cohen's returned bookshelf. I've seen a few Little Free Libraries locally; it's probably good that one isn't close to home as my curiosity would have me stop by on a daily basis.
Posted by: Kareni | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 01:23 PM
A camping area would be the perfect spot for a Little Free Library, Vicki. We camped a lot when I was a kid and I was always running out of books to read. And how nice of your sister to "manage" one -- I should think that each one would need a bit of managing, simply to keep the books tidy and make sure everything's okay.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 04:19 PM
Amy, if you do set up a temporary free library, like Julie Cohen, let us know how you go. I'm tempted to do it, too.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 04:20 PM
Michelle, that "subway library" idea sounds very cool. I used to travel on the train to school, and that was an hour each way -- excellent reading time.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 04:21 PM
Great idea to have one at Curves, too Mary Jo. I think all the little free ones try to be weather proof, but undercover makes it so much easier. And yes, that was a lovely ending to Julie Cohen's story, the bookcase put back on her step so nicely.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 04:22 PM
It was new to me, too, Stephanie, and I've found a site in my city with a list of where a lot of Street Libraries are located, so I might visit a few and drop off some books.
If any Melbournians (of the antipodean variety) are reading this, the site is http://www.melhotornot.com/hot-list-free-libraries-melbourne/
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 04:24 PM
Kareni, I was just talking to a friend f mine about these and she told me there are three in my neighborhood, one in her street, and I'd never seen or noticed them. She uses them a lot. So I'll be checking them out next time I visit her. I foresee a small addiction in the future.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 04:52 PM
I am a basket maker at the Oxford Community Arts Center in Oxford, Ohio. There are two Little Free Libraries there. One is in the building near the back door where many people enter and the other on the front porch of the building. Every so often I fill a bag and take books to donate and sometimes I find one I want to read.
Posted by: Jeanne Sipahigil | Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 09:21 PM
There is a Little Free Library in my neighborhood. I think this idea is one of the best "good news" stories ever. And, good news is always a blessing.
Posted by: Annette Naish | Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 06:15 AM
I though that I had posted yesterday, but the post seems to have gotten lost.
Anyway, I'm glad I waited, because today I found the map. There are 11 little libraries here in Columbia. My husband and I need to check them out!
Posted by: Sue McCormick | Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 08:11 AM
I'd never heard of this but what a wonderful idea! It's a pity we don't have them here. I live out in the countryside. If I put books out they'd probably leave them and take the shelves!!
Posted by: Teresa Broderick | Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 01:11 PM
I'm with you, Annette -- I love stories that remind us that no matter what bad stuff is happening, most people are still good at heart.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 06:55 PM
Thanks, Jeanne --what a nice community.
I love that you make baskets, too. I used to make them when I was a little girl -- but alas, they must have been tossed out when we shifted. My favorites were my first basket which had a wooden base and no handles -- I used it for sewing stuff, and a set of little pine needle baskets that I made.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 07:00 PM
I did check for you in the spam trap, Sue, but you weren't there.
How useful to have a map where all the little libraries are.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 07:02 PM
LOL Teresa. Or the cows might eat the books.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 07:02 PM
In our rural community here in Oxfordshire UK we have a free library. When British Telecom decommissioned all the public phone boxes people started to use them for all kinds of purposes from tourist information to greenhouses. The one in our village is a library and people literally do travel from miles around to visit. It helps that we are in an area that gets lots of cyclists passing through. But everyone from the guys who collect the refuse to visitors wanting to see the historic sites, pop in. I think it also helps that we have a lot of eclectic readers around here so the contents are always interesting too. The council is cutting the mobile library service to rural communities here and also the town libraries so little free libraries are a huge help.
Posted by: Nicola Cornick | Friday, June 30, 2017 at 09:44 AM
Thanks, Nicola -- wonderful uses for old phone boxes — that or turning them into see-through tardises ;) And lovely that people are keeping them stocked and alive.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Friday, June 30, 2017 at 09:06 PM