The idea originated in Madison, WI, and now exists in Indiana and Minnesota as well, but I can see this idea exploding across the country. The designs are priceless. The purpose innovative and charitable. They can be indoors or outdoors. They are little houses holding free books. You walk by, find one you like, and take it. Of course, since people are so good-hearted, they tend to leave one in its place. They are in classrooms, dentist offices, and along roadsides. Mini libraries.
Todd Bol and Rock Brooks originated the idea, and through donations and grants, they've started the idea rolling in Wisconsin. They met while each exploring the benefits of green practices in small businesses. They discovered they shared a commitment to service and improving the quality of community life.
From the website:
Each Little Library will have a story and pictures placed on the website. We want the builders, sponsors and stewards (who make sure the Library and its contents are safe and appropriate for your neighborhood) all to have recognition for their contributions.
Within two or three years we expect to have photographs and stories from all over the world. But yours can be among the first! You can inspire others. You can honor someone you respect and admire. Give the gift of knowledge through reading.
Here are some of the designs built already. I can envision these at community centers, in neighborhoods, in parks, in coffee shops, in kids clothing stores, in gardening centers, in animal shelters. The themes are endless. The enterprise is a nonprofit open to charitable donations as well. Groups can auction them off for fundraising. It's a cause, and you can learn more about joining here.
Don't you just love this idea?
16 comments:
That is a way beyond omnipresently stupenduously magnificent idea!!!
Thanks for sharing this, Hope. This is sooo cooool! Reminds me of the mailbox between the March and Lawrence households in Little Women! Love it.
I love this idea and the cute designs. While I live in a fairly large city, I could see this being used in our "community's ranch house" for residents to share books.
This really is a cool idea! I love it too, and I'm definitely going to check out the website. Thanks so much for posting about this!
What a beautiful idea. Thanks for sharing this!
That is a cool idea. There's a community center within driving distance of our house where a similar concept is put into practice. There's a table in the hallway with boxes, filled with books. You can take what you want for "free" and leave books you no longer want. It's a great idea and I need to take a ride there soon to deposit some books. Last time I took some, I didn't have any to replace them with, but now I do. Take care. Susan from writingstraightfromtheheart.blogspot.com
Yep, love this concept. And it would be fun building it, seeing how many unique ones pop up around a community.
When I lived and cruised on my sailboat, many marinas where I stayed had free bookswaps similar to this. None of them had cute little structures, though. The books were on a table or on a shelf.
Some places had only a few dozen books; some had close to 100 or more.
My local Curves gym has a bookcase with books and magazines to swap.
I'm glad more "land people" are picking up on the book swap idea!
If you want to take this worldwide, you might like this. Geocaching with books:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/
Come join Little Free Library on Facebook here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Free-Library/215442228493484
We'd love to engage with all of you!
Little Free Library
Wonderful idea, gives you a sense of community and sharing. They look like little bird houses!
Brilliant way to create a sense of community!
So very cool! I love this idea a lot!
It's excellent.
Our local medical clinic has a small book stall in the reception area that works on an honesty basis - you choose and pay what you want. The money goes to a good cause.
This is great though - and a good woodwork project. Perhaps there could be a little note book too for comments, pictures, poems, thoughts?
It's excellent.
Our local medical clinic has a small book stall in the reception area that works on an honesty basis - you choose and pay what you want. The money goes to a good cause.
This is great though - and a good woodwork project. Perhaps there could be a little note book too for comments, pictures, poems, thoughts?
these things are so silly!
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