# Little Free Library **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134 "2014-02-24T19:01:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/1 "2014-02-24T19:01:57Z")
The idea behind the [Little Free Library](http://littlefreelibrary.org) (or LFL) is like the leave a penny/take a penny coin spot at your local convenience store. Except with books. The non-profit idea started 5 years ago in Hudson, WI where a son, in tribute to his mother, created a box on his property where people could just take a book or leave a book. No strings. It’s a great idea and in those 5 years since it started, there are between 10 to 15 thousand of these LFLs all around the world. [Some of them are really quite cool](http://www.flickr.com/photos/68010601@N03/) including miniature replicas of the houses they’re next to, TARDIS machines, or various architectural ingenuities. I’ve been wanting one of these for quite some time and while I haven’t quite convinced my partner that we should install one, a neighbor of ours has commissioned me to make one for her daughter. I couldn’t be more thrilled as I’m starting to have too many ideas of ways to build it. Just curious if any other dopers have one or have neighbors that do. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/2 "2014-02-25T00:34:03Z")
There’s a lovely write-upon the LFLs in the most recent Rotarian journal that came out this week. I work at a public library in a small historic town, and I cannot tell you how many of our patrons have totally missed the point and are wondering when the library is going to be putting ours up. Sorry, nope. I deal with curating a real library all day. I’m not about to curate a miniature one in front of the library for free once I get off work, thanks. They seem especially good for already active communities or groups. I love seeing the creativity in the different designs. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/3 "2014-02-25T07:02:24Z")
Huh, interesting. I actually walked past one of these yesterday and was wondering what it was. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/4 "2014-02-25T13:52:02Z")
My gym has one of these. Take a book, leave a book, write your review inside the cover. Fun. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/5 "2014-02-25T16:28:39Z")
Five years? There’s been “leave a book, take a book” racks in several Metra (commuter rail) stations for years now, usually well-stocked with surplus paperbacks from the local library. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/6 "2014-02-25T17:11:35Z")
There’s one on my way to work, on a very busy street. I’d like to stop sometime and put some books in it, but it would be dangerous for me, I think. It’s near an elementary school and I’m sure it’s more for the benefit of kids walking to school. It’s shaped like a little red schoolhouse. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/7 "2014-02-25T17:54:50Z")
I love this idea, and I’ve seen a couple pop up near me, in a suburban area. I’m tempted to do it myself, but my block backs up on 2 schools, and I have visions of vandalism, leaving my front yard covered in book pages. I’ve considered making one for my folks, for their very rural summer place. No reason to keep all those books stacked in the basement, when someone else could be enjoying them. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/8 "2014-02-25T19:43:11Z")
My cousin has one, and she loves doing it. I don’t know why the idea doesn’t do much for me. I have dropped off books, and borrowed books, on train station take-a-book/leave-a-book shelves, but mostly I do book swapping through paperbackswap online. ---
**Author:** ![Kerouac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Kerouac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kerouac)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/9 "2014-04-01T01:27:24Z")
I love the idea and bought one that complimented my old place this winter. Now that spring is near, it isn’t appropriate in my new living situation. I am trying to find a new owner if anyone has any leads. It is the Scandinavian model that is on the website and is in perfect condition. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/10 "2014-04-01T03:32:45Z")
Also look into Bookcrossing: [http://www.bookcrossing.com/](http://www.bookcrossing.com/) "BookCrossing (also BC, BCing or BXing) is defined as “the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise.” The term is derived from [bookcrossing.com](http://bookcrossing.com), a free online book club which was founded to encourage the practice, aiming to “make the whole world a library.” The ‘crossing’ or exchanging of books may take any of a number of forms, including wild-releasing books in public, direct swaps with other members of the websites, or “book rings” in which books travel in a set order to participants who want to read a certain book. " > **[BookCrossing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookcrossing)** > > BookCrossing (also BC, BCing or BXing) is defined as "the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise." The term is derived from bookcrossing.com, a free online book club which was founded to encourage the practice, aiming to "make the whole world a library." > The "crossing" or exchanging of books may take any of a number of forms, including wild-releasing books in public, direct swaps with other members of the websites, or "book rings" in... From time to time I make substantial donations of books to Friends of Library groups. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/11 "2014-04-01T06:43:03Z")
The general idea of “leave a book, take a book” has been around for decades at least, so the Little Free Library didn’t invent this idea. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/12 "2014-04-01T06:49:40Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > The general idea of “leave a book, take a book” has been around for decades at least, so the Little Free Library didn’t invent this idea. Indeed. My local library had a section of paperbacks for this purpose in the '70s. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/13 "2014-04-01T12:16:02Z")
A neighborhood group installed one of these in the area where I work and someone (plural) trashed it and stole all the books. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/14 "2014-04-02T00:41:35Z")
I don’t have one but there are a half dozen in my area, one on my way home. So I’ve stopped there and got books, and I have also put books in. It’s really fun. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/15 "2014-04-02T01:45:49Z")
What a great idea. A look at the map indicates there are none in my city (and only a few in Australia). I’m in a location that would be ideal so I may just do this. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/16 "2014-04-02T02:36:30Z")
Here is an article that appeared last year in our local paper, on little free libraries. > **[Volunteers build 'little free libraries' for Topeka neighborhoods](https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2013/07/13/volunteers-build-little-free-libraries-topeka-neighborhoods/16391287007/)** > > James and Kim Daugherty’s project to spread the love of reading has grown 20 times over, and Saturday they got some help to keep it going. > The Daughertys, who live in southwest Topeka, installed a … ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/17 "2014-04-02T13:57:33Z")
> **[Little Free Library World Map - Little Free Library](https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/)** > > How to use the map Welcome to the Little Free Library map where you can find Little Free Libraries near you! Choose from three main search options and use the… Continue reading Little Free Library World Map I love this idea. My local PBS station did a piece on some of these little libraries around town. If I can find the link I’ll post it. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/18 "2014-04-03T16:17:31Z")
I’ve driven past one before that’s at the exit of a school. I didn’t realize it was part of a larger network. There’s apparently a couple more in my town too. ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/19 "2014-04-06T18:40:10Z")
I have the disturbing feeling that it would be against my city’s ordinances… ---
**Author:** ![Whammo72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Whammo72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo72)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134/20 "2014-04-08T17:35:30Z")
We were going to do one but a neighbor a few doors up beat us to the punch. Seems almost too much like competition lol. Baker - also in Topeka btw. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-free-library/682134.md?page=2)