I watched from my office window this morning as a man stopped in front of my house. He unlatched the door of the tiny turquoise structure that’s perched on a post outside the picket fence and ducked his head out of sight. When he resumed his walk, his Labrador straining the leash, golden river birch leaves falling at his feet, the man held a book in his hand.
From the moment I caught my first glimpse of a Little Free Library (LFL)—the one at the curb on Sheridan Boulevard, a miniature replica of the classic bungalow behind it—I was smitten. As the years passed and additional LFLs sprung up in neighborhoods around Lincoln, I grew more and more enchanted.
Back in 2009 Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a model of a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former teacher who loved reading. He put it on a post in his front yard and filled it with books. His neighbors and friends loved it, so he made several more and gave them away. Six years later, it’s estimated there are approximately 25, 000 Little Free Libraries worldwide.
Last month, I decided I wanted LFL No. 25, 001 in my front yard.
“It says right here you can make one in a weekend, ” I said to my husband as I scrolled through sample blueprints online. “Come on, it’ll be fun, ” I cajoled.
Needless to say, I must have missed the website’s fine print. Clearly they had carpenter, not English professor, in mind when they suggested the LFL as a weekend project.
One month, eight pages of rumpled, tea-stained instructions, multiple trips to the hardware store and countless YouTube videos later, Brad hammered the final nail into our very own Little Free Library.
Caulked and waterproofed, turquoise paint dry, Plexiglas window snugly in place, I held the structure steady as Brad pressed dirt around the post. I hung a festive banner, laid flagstone pavers and positioned a pot of bright yellow mums at its base (clearly my job was curb appeal). And then we filled our Little Free Library with books.
Ben from around the corner brought a selection of Goosebumps paperbacks. His little sister Betsy slid a Finding Nemo picture book onto the lower shelf. Marge and Karna donated a handful of books each, and Deidra and Alleigh cycled across town to add their contributions. By evening, our LFL was stocked with an eclectic collection of contemporary fiction, classic literature, cookbooks, religion, self-help and Green Eggs & Ham.
As I organized the shelves, Amber from across the street came out to snap a photo. Bob from three houses down stopped to admire Brad’s craftsmanship. The fellow whose name I don’t even know drove past his own house and idled in front of ours to chat about his penchant for philosophy books.
In less than an hour, we chatted with more neighbors than we’d had in the last six months.
After the grand opening, I checked the shelves daily, but was disappointed to find that turn-over was slow. As the weeks have passed, however, I’ve come to appreciate the humble, laid-back nature of our Little Free Library. It’s no Barnes and Noble or busy city library, and it’s not supposed to be. Instead, our little library caters to the dog-walkers, the amblers and the wanderers, to the grandma pushing the baby stroller and the cyclist slowly pedaling by on a vintage Schwinn, a woven basket clipped to the metallic handlebars.
Last week, when I jogged past Betsy’s house, I noticed a hand-lettered sign scotch-taped to the railing outside her front door, an arrow pointing down the street toward our house. “Librie this way. Bring a book and take a book, ” the sign read, in rainbow magic marker. Turns out, our little turquoise library is still the talk of the neighborhood, at least among the kindergarten set.
Featured Photo by Alan Levine. Creative Common license via Flickr. Post and photos by Michelle DeRusha.
Prefer to read at a full size library? Check out the Seattle Public Library or the New York Public Library
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How to Read a Poem uses images like the mouse, the hive, the switch (from the Billy Collins poem)—to guide readers into new ways of understanding poems. Anthology included.
“I require all our incoming poetry students—in the MFA I direct—to buy and read this book.”
—Jeanetta Calhoun Mish
- Regional Tour: Homestead National Monument, Beatrice, Nebraska - November 13, 2015
- Making Little Free Library No. 25, 001 - November 4, 2015
- Regional Tour: North House Folk School, Grand Marais, Minnesota - August 12, 2015
Lynn D. Morrissey says
What a sweet story, Michelle. I love this idea!!! There is no greater joy than sharing words that have touched you, words that have inspired, intrigued, and comforted. Granted, it is very hard to part with my books, but when I do, I make sure that they find good homes. I just can’t bear to throw them away. (Yes, I’ve done that when a book is so gridded with my writing, underlines, and highlights that no one else could read it, or else the comments are too private and personal–and I pitch it because I know I have moved on emotionally or psychologically). But other than that, I just can’t trash a book as I would torn nylons that I can no longer use. To me, that would be sacrilege). Several months ago, I did a huge book purge (and amazingly still have tons of books left in my LLL–Little Lynn Library!). I boxed them up and gave them to my husband, Michael, to take to work. When he came home, he told me how a coworker tearfully received my beloved books, saying that her church couldn’t afford new purchases. She was certain the women in her church would treasure them. I have also received used books from friends who felt I would love to read what had blessed them. Or occasionally, my friends and I will rotate our books in our circle of love. My ophthalmologist has a LFL (now that I know what you call it–#25,002!) in his waiting room. Patients take and bring books for a literary exchange to wile away the wait before they see him. I love what you are doing for your neighbors and for the little children who visit your little library. And I hope that a copy of Spiritual Misfit will sit on a shelf in your LFL and make its way to a waiting heart to encourage and inspire, just as it’s made its way to mine and inspired me. Darling post! Thank you for sharing.
Love
Lynn
Michelle DeRusha says
I love that your ophthamologist has a LFL in his waiting room – what a great idea…especially since with their new and improved vision, his patients will actually be able to read again. 🙂
Lynn D. Morrissey says
Ha!
Will Willingham says
I love this. And I really love the way the neighborhood came and filled it with books. What a great thing. 🙂
Michelle DeRusha says
It was really cool. Every time a neighbor stopped by I said to Brad, “See? See? Wasn’t it worth it?” I’m not sure he’ll ever think it was worth a month of weekends, but I do!
Maureen says
The Free Little Library concept is so wonderful. We have one a couple of streets over from me. I’d love to put one up but our HOA rules prohibit that, unfortunately.
Good post, Michelle!
Michelle DeRusha says
Oh man, darn HOA. They have their benefits, but thumbs down to an LFL is a bummer!
Sue Barrett says
Awww…shucks, I feel special!!! One quick idea, you can always sidewalk chalk the path that goes by your LFL with cute sayings and arrows! As you said though, our LFL’s are to be treasured, not to be crowded. Enjoy your new gift to the world. Blessings to you!
Michelle DeRusha says
And it was your sweet LFL that inspired me, Sue! 🙂
Beth says
Love this idea. So sweet. I passed on to my sister because I could totally see her and my BIL doing something like this. He’s rather handy too.
What a blessing!!
Hugs,
XOXO
Michelle DeRusha says
Handy would be a good quality – I hope they do it!
Joanne says
How perfect that you and your family would build a Little Free Library outside of your house! I will have to visit it. Did you add your own books to the library? I hope so because they are both awesome! Thanks for all you do to enhance our environment with the tools for improving our minds and our lives!
Michelle DeRusha says
I did not add my own books to the library, Joanne – I think I am afraid they will sit there forever and no one will be interested in them. I couldn’t take the blow to my ego. 🙂
Kathy says
I found a LFL in Paradise, CA near my son’s home. Opening the small door (painted red and shaped like a fire station) I found numerous books of all genres and even some for tots. It’s a great way to share your love for reading and books that can be circulated to appreciative people who can’t get out to the regular library or just walkers who need to check out what’s in the box! I’m glad there are people who care about sharing their books and giving back to the community.
Michelle DeRusha says
That one sounds super cute. There are pre-made LFLs you can purchase on the LFL website, but since we (and by “we” I mean my husband) made our own, we kept it simple…and that was challenging enough! 🙂
Megan Willome says
Does Kristin know about your turquoise library?
Michelle DeRusha says
Oh my gosh, I hadn’t even thought of that! #TurquoiseLibrary. 😉
Kristin says
Little Turquoise Library!! I’m in love! This makes my day!!
Diana Trautwein says
I had the exact same question as Megan! This is FABulous, Michelle. Congrats to Brad for sticking it out. And congrats to you for egging him on. 🙂
Rick Maxson says
Michelle, this is an inspirational idea and story. What a great way to share books you’ve already read.
We live in a pretty remote area, but there is traffic on our street. We’ve only moved here in Eureka Springs a year ago. The neighbors are just far apart. What a great idea to bring people together.
Michelle DeRusha says
Give it a try, Max, especially if you have foot traffic. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the results. Good luck!
Sandra Heska King says
I need to see if these come pre-made… My husband had a lifetime membership to the Handyman Club of America bestowed on him. But he’s no handyman. He sawed through a sawhorse in freshman shop…