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The Kitchen Table

Do you have little free libraries in your town?

13 years ago

These are so cute. People build them to be weather proof and mount them on a post in their front yards, close to the sidewalk. A friend one street over from me has one and I have seen 2 others so far on my side of town. You can take a book, keep it or return it, donate books, etc. People can build their own or buy them. There are websites that have directions for building the libraries.

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Comments (16)

sandy9743
13 years ago
I started reading about that a couple months ago.a man in Wisc started this . It is in several countries also. I think this is just an amazing idea.
marie_ndcal
13 years ago
In the community room next to the cafe/bar/beauty shop there is some books people can take/donate/read free with no time limit. Started years ago.
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FlamingO in AR
13 years ago
I haven't seen any like those, but we do have a spot in our little post office in Beaver that offers free books and magazines, on the honor system. I love it- it makes me love small town living.
pammyfay
13 years ago
I'm not sure there are any in my area, but I do recall that back when I lived in a Chicago suburb and commuted into the city, there was a spot at the train station where people would leave paperbacks and magazines. I recall picking up a John Grisham novel and returning it when I finished. I thought that was a good thing someone began.
Momof6
13 years ago
Our library has an exchange section ...I have stopped by there when running errands to see if they have anything new get a couple then bring some back next trip...
jannie
13 years ago
There's a bookshelf in the dialysis waiting room in my local hospital. Patients and family members, friends, hospital employees bring books and are free to take any they want. Same thing in my local carwash. They have TV and a bookshelf to keep customers occupied while their car is getting cleaned, about 20 minutes.
rob333 (zone 7b)
13 years ago
One thing about it, if someone were to "steal" it, would that be such a bad thing? What horrible thing are they going to do with it? HA! I love the idea. I hope reading spreads like crazy.

Here is a link that might be useful: in big cities too. He hopes they'll adopt the books
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
13 years ago
Little Free Library
The project for little libraries has gone world wide! Great project.
I have tons of books I want to get rid of I sure could fill up a lot of little libraries!

I hosted a book swap at the garden club meeting here at my house. You could bring one or more and take one or more any left over were given to NAM for their book section in their store. It was a great success.

I also really like bookcrossing.com
Book Crossing
You can put their label in the book (print it ) and then release the book into the wild and watch it as it moves from person to person. You can also go in search of books that have been released, like a treasure hunt.
susanjf_gw
13 years ago
what an awesome idea...that might be a great idea for the sub my dd lives in...
themommy1
13 years ago
Yes , there are some here in Port Townsend, I have not used them, but many here in town do. I think its a nice way to share books.
Rudebekia
13 years ago
Yes, we have quite a number of them here in St. Paul. Each stand is unique and very cute, and people really use them--everyday I see people, young and old, stop to see what's available. I can walk to at least 6 of them in a radius from my house.
susie53_gw
13 years ago
I have never heard of this but it sounds like a super idea.. I live just outside of a small town and we have a wonderful new library. Before the new one it was located downtown in an old crowded building. People never used it. An elderly lady that passed away left her inheritance to build a wonderful library. A lady has now added a beautiful flower garden.
chisue
13 years ago
We're only a couple minutes away from our town library, which is near the east side train station and center of town. They have a kiosk on the west side near that train station and another kiosk at the beach in summer. The main library has a free give-and-take paperback section.

There's a give-and-take 'library' at the lower pool at our Maui condo, but...as Kindles, etc. take over, there are fewer books!

The Little Libraries are a wonderful idea, providing a nice chance for a community to come together.
sjerin
13 years ago
Yes, a gal in our neighborhood (of our big city) started a Little Library and it's going well. They are becoming quite popular around here, I believe.
sudiepav
13 years ago
I have read about these in several publications and have decided that I'm asking for one for my next birthday. There are a few in our town, but the only one I've seen in person is at a local garden store. I'll bring books with me next time I shop there. I think you can go to their website and find out where they are, in your town or any other. A spectacular idea!
rob333 (zone 7b)
13 years ago
Wanna build a little free library? Or join officially? They have a website. Our news channel had a link to it. The first one "in our area" is almost an hour away. So many people go down my street on their way to the greenway, our corner would be fantastic for it.

:)

Here is a link that might be useful: little free library

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