Little Free Libraries

I’ve been charmed by the Little Free Libraries I’ve seen all over Austin. And I notice the number of these libraries have grown and grown. I often stop to look inside the framed glass door and the shelves inside are always filled with both adult and children’s books. As I survey the houses nearby, I think whoever did this created a neighborhood, a real neighborhood! I had some extra copies of my novel, CeeGee’s Gift, so I found the Little Free Libraries Austin area map and made a project of driving across the city and donating a dozen. When I checked back later, all had been taken, but the organization suggests that, once read, each book be taken back to the library for the next reader. Whose great idea was this anyway?

I learned that Little Free Libraries is a global nonprofit founded in 2012 in Hudson, WI with 3 primary objectives: to build community, to inspire readers and to expand access to books. It is volunteer led and in addition to providing kits, plans and support to neighborhoods that want to add a library, they grant no cost libraries full of books to communities that need them. They also promote diverse books and work with schools and libraries to make sure that readers are offered books with BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other diverse voices to promote understanding, empathy, and inclusion. 

Their success has been widely awarded and recognized by prestigious organizations including the National Book Foundation, the Library of Congress and the Library Journal. In less than a decade, they have installed 100,000 Little Free Libraries in over 100 countries with 42 million books shared annually. 72% of their local volunteers have met more of their neighbors and 92% report their neighborhood feels friendlier. Amazing success story.

If, like me, you want to get involved, watch this short video: https://littlefreelibrary.org/start/.