Little Free Libraries (and Food Pantries and Art Galleries…)

Dolgeville Little Free Library

Dolgevile’s Little Free Library is cleverly located in a park. You can pick a book, sit, relax, and read for a bit.

Newtown Church Little Free Library

In Newtown, the Little Free Library is located right on the church lawn, and creates a fun gathering place in the rural village.

Newport "Blessing Box"

Newport’s public library put a box right on the front lawn. Instead of filing it with books, it’s filled with food and necessities.

Fairlee Little Free Food Pantry

Fairlee, VT put up a Little Free Food Pantry on the library lawn to help people survive the pandemic. In the winter, they swap out canned goods for boxed food.

Bethel Little Library

A Bethel volunteer designed this Little Library to transform a Main Street eyesore into a gem. It’s built around an old phone booth, which had been left on the side of a building and covered in graffiti.

Brandon Little Free Library

In Brandon, VT, a traditional little library is combined with art to make it even more appealing and engaging.

Little Free Sled Library

In Minneapolis, the Lake Nokomis Community Schools PTA adapted the model to create a Little Free Sled Library, where people can leave and take sleds.

Henry Sheldon Museum Little Free Art Gallery

Middlebury, VT’s Henry Sheldon Museum put a tiny art gallery at the front entrance, creating an advertisement for the museum and giving people access to art without coming inside.

Randolph Little Free Art Gallery

Randolph’s Kimball Public Library put a Little Free Art Gallery by the sidewalk. Anyone can take a piece of art from inside or leave art for others to enjoy.

Photos ©Community Workshop LLC

Where: Everywhere!

What: Small, curbside boxes where people can take and leave books for free — or something else

You’ve probably seen Little Free Libraries somewhere in your neighborhood or city — small “houses” mounted on a post or fence, with free books inside. They’re all over Herkimer County too, allowing people to share books and build community. But people are also innovating with the model, finding that the little boxes are also great for sharing food or basic goods, sleds or sports gear, or for creating mini art galleries or museums.

Why: Build a culture of sharing and help everyone access free books, food, arts or culture

Little Free Libraries aren’t meant to replace public libraries (how could they?!) — but they are meant to make it extremely easy and convenient for people to share books and materials with each other. Put up a library on your lawn or in front of your business and you’re not only giving away a free service, but also creating opportunities for people to stop and gather, interact, and build community.

Get more creative, and you could use the little library model to give away anything from basic supplies or household goods to used toys and puzzles, farm stand surplus, or anything else around.

More:

• Learn & build — Little Free Library is a non-profit organization that created the concept. It operates a network and map, and the site has free plans and lots of tips. You have to pay to register an “official” library in the network, or you can just do it yourself.

• Get the basics — Read how to start a Little Free Library in your yard in this tipsheet from AARP

• Pantry adaptations — Read how the Minneapolis-St. Paul area is creating a network of Little Free Pantries

Get Inspired:

• Build a Little Library: Use plans or get creative with your own design. You can build a little library structure for $50-100 and quickly pop it up on your lawn, in a park, or at a business. Just check out zoning or other regulations before you do.

• Make a Little ____ Library: Think creatively about what you could give and take using a little library structure. Games or puzzles? Sports equipment? Food? Local history museum? Remote social services mini-branch office? Something else?

• Redesign an eyesore: Is there an empty phone booth or utility box on your street? An empty nook collecting cobwebs and garbage? If you can’t remove it and no one is taking ownership, see if you can get permission to reimagine it as a little library.