Little Free Library
Do you know about Little Free Library? The first time I heard about it, I had an immediate dream to have a Little Free Library of my own. The problem is that we have a house we’re constantly tearing apart, and four kids hanging from us needing some sort of parenting, and all those other life things, and taking the time out to make a little wooden box we’d fill with books seemed sort of frivolous. So I never mentioned it.
Then one day Dave and I were talking about community, and giving back, and teaching the kids about service, and suddenly I was rambling on, and on, about Little Free Libraries and how they embody all of my favorite notions of service: literacy, serving your immediate neighborhood, and fun and surprises where you don’t expect them (ok, I don’t think that last one is really a legitimate “notion of service,” but it’s one of my favorite things about life).
And Dave, wonder that he is, thought it was a great idea and started helping me build one the next day. We were able to use leftover shingles so it matches our house. We involved the kids as much as could in the design and building. And of course we had to put in a light — we get a lot of late-night dog walkers, and I wanted them to be able to pick books at midnight. (Another dream I didn’t know I had: the desire to give late-night dog walkers a way to choose books in the dark.)
I am so happy and proud about this. I’ve been spending a lot of time staring at the Little Free Library, hand over my heart, and sighing.
Plus it’s my first library job! I’ve got to put that MLS to use sometime!
Here’s the sticker we designed for the inside. We made it so it looks like a library card in a pocket, but it’s got our address, and, under date due, says, “WHENEVER.”
The Library at night.
If you’re in South Portland, stop on by! Little Free Library #2354 open and ready for reading!
Posted on August 20th, 2012 under Julie, books • Tags: books, building, little free library. • 
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August 20th, 2012 at 9:36 am
Thanks for this. I wanted to mention this for our neighborhood revamped community center.
August 20th, 2012 at 9:37 am
A community center would be a perfect place for one!
August 20th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Julie, that is totally fantastic! It’s perfect and beautiful!
August 21st, 2012 at 10:16 am
This is fantastic! It has such a professional look to it — kudos to your husband and to you!
I must share this with my friend who wants to put one up at our church. She will be delighted to see yours.
August 24th, 2012 at 7:29 pm
Stopping by from Maine Homeschooling Questions, Answers and Ideas on Facebook! What a cute little library! And a great idea! Love it!
August 27th, 2012 at 10:19 am
And now my hand is over my heart, sighing. Oh, would that we lived down the block!
September 1st, 2012 at 11:18 am
Wow Julie you are just AMAZING!
Cat
September 6th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
I love the Little Free Library! You guys are the best. Hope your knee is healing…
September 6th, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Beth, you should stop on by!!
September 24th, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Just hopped over from Design Mom- you have inspired me! I am already making up plans to build my own little free library. What a wonderful concept. Thank you for the wonderful idea!
September 25th, 2012 at 12:10 am
my mind is blown! I have never heard of a free library like this! and your’s is sooooo beautiful. I must make my own. can you tell me how the light works? absolutely brilliant! thanks ~
September 25th, 2012 at 8:58 am
Natalie, so glad to have inspired you! I love how this idea takes hold. As soon as I heard about it, I HAD to make one, and now I’m so happy to be the one telling other people about it!
September 25th, 2012 at 8:59 am
Amanda, the light is a recessed 3-LED cabinet light we got at Rockler. We hooked it up to the timer we use for Christmas lights — it’s an outdoor timer that you can set to “Dusk to Dawn.” So it automatically goes on when it gets dark, and turns off in the morning.
September 28th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
[...] Bevegelsen Little Free Library – smart måte å bytte bøker [...]
November 10th, 2012 at 11:53 am
This is wonderful! How did you get the light inside? Did you wire it from the house? I love it!
November 10th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Ishta, it’s an LED “puck” light we got from Rockler. We installed it into the ceiling of the LFL, and hooked it up to the same timer (outdoor outlet) that we plug our Christmas lights into. So it stays on all night, and we don’t have to remember to turn it on or off. You should make one!
November 10th, 2012 at 8:34 pm
Julie, this is so lovely and impressive. Were I not on a back country road….but I shall have to admire yours when I’m next visiting my parents :0)
December 14th, 2012 at 7:13 am
Oh my WORD! I kept the picture hidden while I read the post so that I would focus on the words and not just zoom through the images. I was not expecting something so professional and amazing, not that I expected something sloppy, but you know what I mean! I am in absolute awe, and totally inspired. I live in Bath, so I WILL be making a trip to your Little Free Library to take pictures and spread its specialness. Then when the time is right, I will have a perfect example to work from. Our house is right on a sidewalk that has many pedestrians going by, so it would be a great place for the Lib. And your sticker…where did you have that made? This made my morning!
December 14th, 2012 at 7:20 am
Nicole! Isn’t it beautiful? If I had made it myself, it would be all lopsided and leaky. Dave is amazing. The sticker! I made it myself! When you do your own LFL, I’ll send you the file.
Make sure you ring the doorbell and say hi when you come visit!