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Get Ready for Give a Good Read Week!
No one should be without something great to read. That's why we're working with the nonprofit Little Free Library for a global week of book sharing: Give a Good Read Week. And we’re inviting you to join us!
This year Little Free Library—which fosters a global community of neighborhood "give a book, take a book" free book exchange libraries—is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and to mark the occasion and encourage more readers to share books in their communities, we're inviting you to join us for Give a Good Read Week. This will run from September 16 to 22, and we're sharing the news and guidelines now to allow everyone time to prepare.
How can I get involved? What's going to happen?
We're asking our wonderful community of 95 million readers to add their favorite book or latest good read to a Little Free Library near them and share a photo on social media with #GiveAGoodRead and #LFL10 during the week of September 16 to 22. Goodreads will be sharing some of these photos during the week, so don’t forget the hashtags so we can see yours!
You can also include a note to the future reader of your book to help people know what's going on. To make life easy, we've created one for you that you can download here. You’re welcome to personalize it with your own message.
What is Little Free Library?
In 2009, Todd Bol (1956–2018) created the first Little Free Library book exchange and placed it in the front yard of his Hudson, Wisconsin, home as a tribute to his mother—a teacher. Ten years later, his simple idea has snowballed into the world's largest book-sharing movement! The Little Free Library nonprofit organization inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world.
Where can I find the nearest Little Free Library?
There are more than 90,000 Little Free Library book exchanges in 91 countries, and in all 50 U.S. states. You can see if there is one near you on this interactive map.
What kind of book should I put in the Little Free Library?
It's totally up to you, but in keeping with our theme, we encourage you to give a book you think is a good read. Maybe it's a book you've enjoyed recently or maybe it's your all-time favorite that you want more people to discover and read. It can be a brand-new book or a book you've read and is sitting on your shelf waiting for a new reader. The choice is yours!
What if there isn't a Little Free Library near me?
One idea is to start your own Little Free Library. You could use Give a Good Read Week as a trial run and create a temporary library. One Little Free Library steward started with just a sturdy plastic bag before converting later to a registered wooden library.
If you're already inspired to become a Little Free Library steward, you can browse ready-to-use libraries here, blueprints for building your own library here, and inspiration for some of the incredibly creative libraries others have built here.
Another option is the Impact Library Program, which provides no-cost Little Free Libraries to high-need communities in the U.S. It’s another way you can help more readers discover a good book.
Can I take a book from a Little Free Library, too?
Absolutely! Sharing books in communities is at the heart of this event.
Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below. We’re looking forward to inspiring many more readers with good books to read from September 16 to 22!
P.S. And please invite your friends to participate using the share buttons below!
This year Little Free Library—which fosters a global community of neighborhood "give a book, take a book" free book exchange libraries—is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and to mark the occasion and encourage more readers to share books in their communities, we're inviting you to join us for Give a Good Read Week. This will run from September 16 to 22, and we're sharing the news and guidelines now to allow everyone time to prepare.
How can I get involved? What's going to happen?
We're asking our wonderful community of 95 million readers to add their favorite book or latest good read to a Little Free Library near them and share a photo on social media with #GiveAGoodRead and #LFL10 during the week of September 16 to 22. Goodreads will be sharing some of these photos during the week, so don’t forget the hashtags so we can see yours!
You can also include a note to the future reader of your book to help people know what's going on. To make life easy, we've created one for you that you can download here. You’re welcome to personalize it with your own message.
What is Little Free Library?
In 2009, Todd Bol (1956–2018) created the first Little Free Library book exchange and placed it in the front yard of his Hudson, Wisconsin, home as a tribute to his mother—a teacher. Ten years later, his simple idea has snowballed into the world's largest book-sharing movement! The Little Free Library nonprofit organization inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world.
Where can I find the nearest Little Free Library?
There are more than 90,000 Little Free Library book exchanges in 91 countries, and in all 50 U.S. states. You can see if there is one near you on this interactive map.
What kind of book should I put in the Little Free Library?
It's totally up to you, but in keeping with our theme, we encourage you to give a book you think is a good read. Maybe it's a book you've enjoyed recently or maybe it's your all-time favorite that you want more people to discover and read. It can be a brand-new book or a book you've read and is sitting on your shelf waiting for a new reader. The choice is yours!
What if there isn't a Little Free Library near me?
One idea is to start your own Little Free Library. You could use Give a Good Read Week as a trial run and create a temporary library. One Little Free Library steward started with just a sturdy plastic bag before converting later to a registered wooden library.
If you're already inspired to become a Little Free Library steward, you can browse ready-to-use libraries here, blueprints for building your own library here, and inspiration for some of the incredibly creative libraries others have built here.
Another option is the Impact Library Program, which provides no-cost Little Free Libraries to high-need communities in the U.S. It’s another way you can help more readers discover a good book.
Can I take a book from a Little Free Library, too?
Absolutely! Sharing books in communities is at the heart of this event.
Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below. We’re looking forward to inspiring many more readers with good books to read from September 16 to 22!
P.S. And please invite your friends to participate using the share buttons below!
Comments Showing 1-42 of 42 (42 new)
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Katsuro
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Sep 05, 2019 06:28AM
I'd do this if we had those in Sweden.
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Katsuro wrote: "I'd do this if we had those in Sweden."Just put one outside, make it like a big birdhouse!
I absolutely LOVE Little Free Libraries. I'm trying to visit as many as I possibly can. Already visited two out of my home state. Would love to have one of my own. Maybe someday!
Katsuro wrote: "I'd do this if we had those in Sweden."There are 6 in Sweden.
What a good reminder. Just checked the map for our area. I'll be taking my daughter out to stuff the Little Library boxes :)
These things are cute, but I struggle to see the utility. I have never found something I actually want to read in one, and their small size means you have to trek from one to the next if you want to have a decent selection. Plus, we have a great public library system where I live, yet LFLs proliferate. What's the point? They just seem to be repositories for unwanted books. Maybe if I lived somewhere without a library system, I would appreciate them.
Robyn wrote: "These things are cute, but I struggle to see the utility. I have never found something I actually want to read in one, and their small size means you have to trek from one to the next if you want t..."I work in the children's library and see the same patrons throughout the year. The amount of children we see, is less than 1/10th of the population of kids that live in this area. Many kids don't get to go to public libraries because they rely on someone else to bring them. I put a little library up in my neighborhood and put books like the Harry Potter series in it and it quickly disappeared. Kids walk by my house on the way to the school or the bus stop. I like to think that I'm giving kids who can't drive to the library the option of reading. I also have a lot of elderly in my area, the most they do is walk on the block. They don't drive much anymore or rely on their adult children to bring them places, sadly, they don't go to the library either. My comment book had a sweet note from an older lady thanking me for putting in the box.
we have it in public gardens, in italy. love it, ciao
My commuter rail station has a couple of book racks kept filled by the local public library.
I love this idea and will be participating!!!
We've had a LFL for several years. It gets a lot of business. It also gets vandalism, but it's still worth having because i know it's been appreciated by those who use it. We have a lower shelf for children so they can access the books they want without help and another shelf for teens and adults. This way the children can ride up in their Fred Flintstone cars (if you know what i mean) and pick their books.
There is one at a local park, just with kids' books. Awesome idea!
We have a couple of them in my neighborhood: one in the park just for kids, one on my way home from walking by the park and one across the street near the now-closed pharmacy. I have found quite a few books I wanted, mostly for my nieces and nephews. The last good book I got was All Roads Lead to Austen: A Yearlong Journey with Jane. I recently put inGhosts of New England: The Haunted Hotels, Inns and Bed and Breakfasts
and another ghost story book of local interest and they were both snapped up by the time I walked by again.
Most of my books as ebooks from Amazon so I do not own them and I'm forbidden from sharing! DRM is noose around the neck of digital publishing. Check out Cory Doctorowbroken promise
There are absolutely NO Little Free Libraries in my area... I've been meaning to ask my local council if I could set one up near me! 😍👍
I found one of these little libraries in a neighborhood near me and we weeks ago and I was so excited to see it! I’m looking forward to participating this year. 🤗
There are a few of these 'Little Free Libraries' around my neighborhood and I think it's a great idea!
We have a couple here on my little island and they are a great resource and very cute. My only problem is that I'm always very reluctant to place one of my better books in there because we sometimes get some very wet and blustery days and I fear the books could suffer from that. (The gods must agree with me because as I was typing that, we just got a massive clap of thunder with a power blip!)
I make a point of taking all my giveaway wins from Goodreads Giveaways to either my workplace to share or to the LFL down the block on the street I live on. My policy is if you got a book for free (unless there's huge sentiment behind a specific book you receive as a gift) then it's the world's book and it needs to be released into the wild for someone else to enjoy when you've finished it!
If I ever move out of a condo I'll definitely have this in my yard. I love them.
Super excited! I used the map to find two of these LFL locations very close in my neighborhood! And I just went through all our books and have some good ones to share! Love this and love that it's going on during my birthday week! :D
We have a little library at basketball 🏀😄👋
Shari wrote: "I absolutely LOVE Little Free Libraries. I'm trying to visit as many as I possibly can. Already visited two out of my home state. Would love to have one of my own. Maybe someday!"The way i found mine in my city was using google maps (entering my zip code) and my mom knew of some. I didnt know we had any until one day i was looking for something else on google maps and saw one on the map. 😊
Ariele wrote: "Robyn wrote: "These things are cute, but I struggle to see the utility. I have never found something I actually want to read in one, and their small size means you have to trek from one to the next..."Ariele, thank you for doing this! I always wonder about those who cant get to the library, for whatever reason and cant afford to buy books. Folks like you are amazing. People dont realize how the "smallest gestures" can be the biggest miracles/blessings to others.
There are a ton of these in my town. Earlier this year I decided I added Catch-22 to my want-to-read list, and the next day saw a copy in a free little library on a cul-de-sac where there was a neighborhood party. Score! They are often a dumping ground but sometimes people leave decent things in them. I have made an effort to leave some decent sci-fi/fantasy paperbacks in there from time to time.
I have most of my books on kindle at this point. I wish there was a way to pass them along or share them.
Katsuro wrote: "I'd do this if we had those in Sweden."You can make your own (or have someone handy make one for you) and put it out. There is only one actual registered Little Free Library in my neighborhood but there are in fact about 9 or 10 homemade ones in a 1 kilometer radius of my home.
Robyn wrote: "These things are cute, but I struggle to see the utility. I have never found something I actually want to read in one, and their small size means you have to trek from one to the next if you want t..."Living in a small town surrounded by a lot of rural areas, I must say I think LFLs are very hit or miss. Well-stewarded ones in areas like mine, with less-than-stellar library access can be a huge blessing. Especially when people share unique books or ones uncommon to the area---for instance, I was able to secure a donation of comic books for my LFL from a store in a neighboring town, and it's really nice to be able to share them with our community since we have very poor access to comic books (no comics or graphic novels in the library, and no comic store in town).
Some LFLs are just dumping grounds for unwanted books, or pet projects for people in cities whose areas have plenty of access to books. But I think overall even those ones don't hurt anything and can sometimes help someone find a good read. :)
They are hit or miss. Had to work at a location the other evening that has one right outside. Made a point to check out the physical condition of the books since we had just had the outer bands of Dorian go by us all day the day before. I've always been reluctant to put any of my books in there because I had always assumed they'd get all wet and moldy because of our usual weather conditions. Must admit that I was happily surprised at how dry they all were. Apparently, that little house is built rather sound. Now I know I can put some books in there without fear of them getting trashed.
On the other hand, I had no interest in any of the books it held. No surprise there though. Have had a difficult time moving many of the books I've finally decided to let go of because even though we have lots of readers in my town, all they ever want are beach books, John Grisham, James Patterson and stuff like that, which you'd be hard pressed to find amongst my thousand books or so. My books are all over the place, from classics to contemporary as well as non-fiction, but just not the sort most of those I encounter are interested in.
Being at the point where I'm finally allowing myself to let go of some of my books, as well as having so many others involving obligations, I didn't take any. I've finally accepted that my library will still exist but not all together anymore. Kind of like the kids have grown and are now moving on.
There is one other thing I noticed. Though the house was very cute and well built, it is a bit too smallish. Mine was filled but also noticed they were mostly all paperback books from small to medium sized. There's really not much room for cramming any sort of hardcover books in. Would be nice if a few locations had a version that is larger or maybe two side by side. These are wonderful little gifts for any community as long as the locals respect their purpose which they do in my town.
There is an "online version" called bookcrossing.com... I have only just discovered it yesterday 😍 there are no books in my area, nor are there any active members in my area 😂 I thought I should revive that for my local community to make it more bearable though!
Jessica, thanks for this resource. Nothing in my area either. In fact, it keeps kicking me over to France. I'm on the other side of the Atlantic, in the US. Weird. Saved the link anyway. Maybe one day it will be of some value for us.
Robyn wrote: "These things are cute, but I struggle to see the utility. I have never found something I actually want to read in one, and their small size means you have to trek from one to the next if you want t..."
I am buzzing for this. So far I have found 4 in my area and people are definitely reading them.
For my birthday, my husband is building a Little Free Library that I can put along our backyard where we get a lot of walkers. I’m looking forward to having one!
Astrid wrote: "We have a couple here on my little island and they are a great resource and very cute. My only problem is that I'm always very reluctant to place one of my better books in there because we sometime..."I was able to find an old newspaper box which only needed a new paint job...very weather proof and large enough for me to adapt shelves for larger books.Hoping I can find another to set next to it so I can have one just for children ...I like to put dvds in mine too.A neighbor built a lovely small gazebo with built in shelves all the way around ....its DIVINE! Children often lie on the floor reading....and napping....its become a wonderful getaway spot .He intends to install plastic walls up for winter so it keeps snow out and there will still be a reading spot out if the bad weather.
We build ours in 2015 - Little Free Library Nilai Impian.Love to see people get the books for reading from our LFL.
I'm lucky that my area is FULL of these -- pretty much any neighborhood I'm in, if I park and walk 3 blocks I'll spot at least one. Even though I rarely find anything to borrow, I love checking them. It's like getting a random present -- there is thrill just in the possibility as you open it. I often donate ex-library books and the kids' books I pick up cheaply at used book sales; it gives me a fun reason to take a nice walk.
Done! Just left books in three different Littles! Love these!!
