Are you a bookworm? Do you spend a great deal of time purchasing books online or from your local bookstores?
Then you will love the tiny library phenomenon that has probably already hit your neighborhood. You just have to know where to look.
I was amazed to find that, with the addition of my library last week, even our little mountain community of Munds Park has a total of 5 Little Free Libraries.
These adorable tiny libraries are part of a larger social movement that started in 2009, when Tod Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a birdhouse-like replica of a one-room schoolhouse and mounted it in his front yard, as a tribute to his mother, who was a teacher. He filled the little box with free books, and a sign that said, “Take a book, leave a book.”
The movement caught on. A registered non-profit since 2012, Little Free Library now boasts more than 80,000 wee branches in 91 countries.
It’s easy to create a tiny library. Simply build (or upcycle) a water-tight structure, place it in a publicly accessible location on your property (if near a road, make sure there is a safe place to pull off the road and get out. Add some books you’d like to re home, and wait for your readers to arrive. To ensure the library is always stocked, a “take a book, leave a book” honor system should be posted on the box.
Then you will love the tiny library phenomenon that has probably already hit your neighborhood. You just have to know where to look.
I was amazed to find that, with the addition of my library last week, even our little mountain community of Munds Park has a total of 5 Little Free Libraries.
These adorable tiny libraries are part of a larger social movement that started in 2009, when Tod Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a birdhouse-like replica of a one-room schoolhouse and mounted it in his front yard, as a tribute to his mother, who was a teacher. He filled the little box with free books, and a sign that said, “Take a book, leave a book.”
The movement caught on. A registered non-profit since 2012, Little Free Library now boasts more than 80,000 wee branches in 91 countries.
It’s easy to create a tiny library. Simply build (or upcycle) a water-tight structure, place it in a publicly accessible location on your property (if near a road, make sure there is a safe place to pull off the road and get out. Add some books you’d like to re home, and wait for your readers to arrive. To ensure the library is always stocked, a “take a book, leave a book” honor system should be posted on the box.
Little Free Library enthusiasts are encouraged to build their own designs. Here’s an old refrigerator that was used in a dorm and now has be re-purposed. It required no renovations, by the way. Just add books!
You can also build your own, following the instruction for the classic Little Free Library kits on the group’s website.
The website also gives clear directions for mounting the libraries on posts so they are protected and accessible to eager neighborhood readers.
If starting from scratch isn’t your thing, Little Free Library models are available for order, including a 100% recycled wood and plastic model with a quaint pitched roof.
If starting from scratch isn’t your thing, Little Free Library models are available for order, including a 100% recycled wood and plastic model with a quaint pitched roof.
Don't you love the Snoopy and Woodstock this homeowner added to their simple wooden box?
There are plenty of library custodians who go above and beyond to make their tiny pop-up libraries stand out. After all, these structures aren’t just about education –they’re also about community and the arts.
There are plenty of library custodians who go above and beyond to make their tiny pop-up libraries stand out. After all, these structures aren’t just about education –they’re also about community and the arts.
For example, architectural designer John Locke has repurposed four phone booths in New York City as pop-up libraries. His aim is to preserve the special social space that phone booths provide in cities. Books for his kiosks, part of his Department of Urban Betterment project, are donated by local residents. Locke designs and makes the plywood shelving that he then hangs from the booths, which are still fully functional for calls.
The re-purposing concept is adopted in Europe as well. In 2002, British Telecom had 92,000 phone boxes in Britain, but about half of them were removed due to the popularity of mobile phones.
Rather than rip out the rest, the company came up with Adopt a Kiosk program in 2009. Communities were offered the chance to buy one of the iconic red telephone boxes for 1 pound and encouraged to turn them into spaces that local residents would actually use.
The scheme has been a great success, and more than 1,500 of the boxes have been converted to grocery stores, wildlife information centers, tea rooms, art galleries, defibrillator points and—you guessed it---tiny libraries.
The popularity of the iconic red box quickly moved across the pond. Free Little Library offers a version of the mini British Phone Booth library for sale.
Rather than rip out the rest, the company came up with Adopt a Kiosk program in 2009. Communities were offered the chance to buy one of the iconic red telephone boxes for 1 pound and encouraged to turn them into spaces that local residents would actually use.
The scheme has been a great success, and more than 1,500 of the boxes have been converted to grocery stores, wildlife information centers, tea rooms, art galleries, defibrillator points and—you guessed it---tiny libraries.
The popularity of the iconic red box quickly moved across the pond. Free Little Library offers a version of the mini British Phone Booth library for sale.
Hey, Munds Park! This Log Cabin design would be perfect in a front yard!
Here are some of my other favorite designs to inspire you.
Here are some of my other favorite designs to inspire you.
"Books are magic and everyone needs a little magic in their lives. This Little Free Library is an ode to Harry Potter and the wonderful J.K. Rowling.
We hope you grab a book that speaks to you and get lost in the simple magic of reading."
Allison S.
Pottstown, PA
We hope you grab a book that speaks to you and get lost in the simple magic of reading."
Allison S.
Pottstown, PA
I would put this one in my yard in a heartbeat!
Surely this family has kids.
It seems there's a little Library for any interest you'd like to display.
I love this one, but I wouldn't stash its cuteness between my trash bins.
Be proud of your perversity! Into the front yard you go!
Be proud of your perversity! Into the front yard you go!
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