Blessings of the Little Free Library
Bringing a community together
Our Little Free Library was brought into fruition as something to keep us busy during the pandemic. Little did we know it would become much more than that. The idea was manifested from a magazine clipping that had been part of a growing pile of interesting information that I’ve been saving in a cardboard box in my office.
I presented it to my husband as sort of a honey-do project and away he went. He researched project plans on the Little Free Library site. There’s many details to consider when building a Little Free Library. Most importantly is the need to keep the elements out of the structure. Shortly after locating self-closing cabinet hinges, plywood, and plexiglass, a small mansion of a Little Free Library was sitting on my dining room table. As promised, I began to think of something to paint on the library. After overcoming the anxiety of committing paint to wood, I cast the first stroke of the brush. I learned that even a rote beginner like myself can paint if there is a will.
The first Little Free Library was created by Todd H. Bol in 2009 in memory of his mother in Wisconsin. His neighbors loved the tiny library. From that idea, Todd and his friends created 30 more, and planted them like seeds across Madison, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Today there are more than 100,000 Little Free Libraries across the globe.
When the pandemic shut down community libraries, we lost access to a place where we could browse and gather. It’s true that books can be ordered in advance and be picked out outside. What has been lost is the ability to browse the stacks and come across a book with an idea that is totally new. The Little Free Library has kept the ability to browse and explore for something totally not imagined.
Unexpected for me was the community participation in my Little Free Library. The community has embraced the idea of its existence. Books are dropped off and taken without much effort from me. My job as a steward is to make sure I straighten up the books. I try to keep the children's books on the lower shelf. We are grateful for all of the books left for others to read. It is a true bright spot in the pandemic.
One of the great reaffirming lessons of our Little Free Library is to not underestimate the power of an idea that is supported by the community. We have five Little Free Libraries in our small village. Each one is unique and limited only by the imagination.
Check out the map to see where they are located near you: Little Free Library locations.
Linda Salzer is a Senior Network Engineer working to pivot towards a technical Product Manager position.
