What Inspires Me? Reading Free
I just celebrated my 4th Anniversary as a Little Free Library Steward. It began selfishly. As a way for me to cull my overflowing book collection. Frankly, in those first several months, I was my best library customer.
Then CoVid shutdown came, and with it library and bookstore closings. During that time, my library was the only book source in town! And, suddenly, instead of dwindling stock, I found myself curating stacks of donations. Sure, a few visitors used it as a dump for raggedy outdated textbooks and computer programing manuals. But most donations were gently read and some even included reviews and notes:
“Read Me! You’ll be glad you did””
Confession: I judiciously cull my library offering. Yes, I even ban some books from it.
I ban books I think are poorly written.
I ban some books I found boring.
I ban books that BIPOC friends find offensive.
I ban pamphlets.
I ban religious material folks slip in. (Not because I object to said material. More because I’ve made a decision to keep my library non-secular.)
I ban non-PG books.
As we all know—I’m not the only one banning books. And this might sound hypocritical, but this horrifies me. Towns defunding libraries because librarians refuse to ban books. Towns firing or “polietly” shoving out librarians who refuse to take “banned” books off their shelves….McFarland, CA seriously considering shutting the library—and turning it into a police station.
This, I can do something about. And every one of us with a Little Free Library can do something about. Because we are the stewards of our own Little Free Libraries. We can act!
We can stock banned books.
If you’ve got books! It you love books! If you like sharing books! Then there are 2 things you should consider doing:
Support your local library and librarian’s choices to purchase, stock and share books by diverse authors and on diverse subjects.
Steward your own Little Free Library. It’s fun. It’s rewarding. You can stock it with books that are being banned for the wrong reasons…and help keep reading free!
Besides, Little Free Libraries are so flippin’ creative, cute, clever….cool. Here are 36 Cool Little Free Library Designs. See for yourself.
What Inspires Me? Little Free Libraries
Take a Book: Share a Book
I was at a Texas Library Association (TLA) meeting once when author Laurie Halse Anderson called us all “Book Sluts.” Silence, gasps, nervous twitters, guffaws followed when she explained. “You all will read anything.” I did say “us.” And what eventually happens we go from Book Sluts to Book Hoarders. I’m guilty too. Every room in my house has at least one bookcase, book basket, book “decorative display” . . . Open a nightstand in a guest room hoping to find a spot to stow your stuff—fat chance! they too are stacked with books.
Dead Tree Turned Little Free Library! Who wouldn’t want to check it out?
Fast forward to 2018 when my family granted my birthday wish by surprising me with a Little Free Library of my very one—custom built with a rooftop garden by son Max.
Honestly, filling it that first time was a Sophie’s Choice. After all, the first part of the Little Free Library motto is “Take a Book.” Which of my zillions of babies could I stock it with knowing I might never get to see them, touch them, read them again?
I managed to curate what I considered a fine blend of books for all ages—especially picture books—classics and new releases, pop and literary (no judging) and some ARCs (the perk of being a TLA/ALA/ILA attendee and occasional reviewer).
My Very Own Little Free Library! Mary Lee Donovan’s A Hundred Thousand Welcomes didn’t last long.
That was in August of 2018. Frankly, although I was especially attentive: watching, weeding, rotating those first six months, I didn’t have many visitors. Doubt crept in: was my Little Free Library a flop? And then came March 2019.
Libraires closed. Stores closed. Work closed. School closed. Winter. Dark. Scary.
Little Free Library at a Gas Station in Ladysmith, VA. Fill your mind while you fill your tank!
My Little Free Library turned out to be a bright spot in our lonely quiet village. Suddenly, my LFL was a hopping spot. My books flew out faster than I could restock. My fear about what I could part with caused me to make some rash decisions—and do some strategic planning. I found myself testing visitor’s literary tastes by stocking one in a series. If it went, I’d put in another by the same author, and so on.
And then, just when restocking was beginning to hurt (some shelves were actually not sagging any longer) the other half of the Little Free Library motto happened: Visitors began sharing books! Lots of books! Sure a few dusty moldy collections, but mostly interesting reads. Some even wrote notes: “Read Me! Choose Me!” “This was my favorite!”
That was CoVid, we were all worried, so I’d rotate books to ensure they had a mandatory 72 hour kill-the-bug period, and I disinfected the heck out of my Little Library.
Microwaves, Fine Cabinets, Old Tin Boxes, Ovens…Libraries!
If anyone happened to visit my LFL I’d hide or drive right by. Not because I was scared to talk to them. But because so often visitors have a guilty look on their faces as they riffle through the books. As though they’re doing something naughty. Finally, one of my deepest darkest wishes had been granted: I had created a “Guilty Pleasure!”
Ohio-Pyle, PA—Where the rivers—bikers, hikers, rafters—readers—converge
Who inspires me: Todd Bol, who is 2009, built a model of a one room schoolhouse, posted it in his front yard and filled it with books. According to the Little Free Library website, “His neighbors and friends loved it, so he built several more and gave them away.” Then Rick Brooks heard what Todd was doing and they teamed up to make Little Free Library something more.
In the early days of Little Free Library, Todd Bol said he’d be happy if 2000 books were exchanged. At the time of his death in 2018, the organization he founded with Rick Brooks, celebrated it’s 75,000th Little Free Library. In 2022, there are over 150,000 registered Libraries in more than 115 countries.
Todd Bol and his first Little Free Library
“I really believe in a Little Free Library on every block and a book in every hand. I believe people can fix their neighborhoods, fix their communities, develop systems of sharing, learn from each other, and see that they have a better place on this planet to live.”
(Before you ask, yes, I did think that a picture book about Todd Bol and Little Free Library was a great idea. Margret Aldrich beat me to it! And so did Miranda Paul with Little Libraries; Big Heroes
Keep your eyes open, Little Free Libraries are everywhere, made from everything: trees, microwaves, filing cabinets and wood.
When you travel, find a LFL nearby—you don’t need a card to check out books! What’s more, you can lighten your baggage as deposits are always welcome.
And, if, like mine, your shelves are bowing—and I know they are you
Book S…Hoarder you! —maybe it’s time for a LFL of your own. Visit LittleFreeLibrary.org for more.