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Join Us for "Give a Good Read Week" This Week!
Are you ready? It's here! Give a Good Read Week kicks off today and runs through Sunday, September 22. Which book are you going to share?
All week, we're asking the wonderful Goodreads 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 tagging @goodreads and using the hashtags #GiveAGoodRead and #LFL10. Goodreads will be sharing some of these photos during the week, so don’t forget the hashtags and @goodreads 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.
Look who else is sharing amazing books with their communities!
All week, we're asking the wonderful Goodreads 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 tagging @goodreads and using the hashtags #GiveAGoodRead and #LFL10. Goodreads will be sharing some of these photos during the week, so don’t forget the hashtags and @goodreads 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.
Look who else is sharing amazing books with their communities!
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!
Comments Showing 1-50 of 161 (161 new)
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John
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Sep 16, 2019 02:33AM
Such free book exchanges exist all over Germany, albeit not under the name of Little Free Library. I have used them often and will continue to do so!
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Seminole Heights in Tampa is a haven for Little Free Libraries <3 I can’t wait to spread some literary joy on my morning bike rides this week!
My grandma and I put these Shel Silverstein books in a Little Library in Marion IA today. Where the Sidewalk EndsA Light in the AtticFalling UpEvery Thing on It
We have many Little Free Libraries here in Baltimore County, MD, as well as in nearby Baltimore City. Some nearby ones are found outdoors and very accessible on church grounds, streets that are home to elementary schools, and on a popular shopping avenue. I’m hoping to build one soon, here on my own street. I love all of the many creative constructions and paint styles... but mostly love the fact of GIVING. They feel like a particular incarnation of a Random Act of Kindness, for readers. For my part this week, I chose to visit a bunch of second-hand stores, and purchase a great quantity of children’s and teen books. Once I print out the downloadable form, I’m also going to include a bookmark in each. I’ll place 5-6 books in each Little Free Library that I know of, in my area, and take photos at that time.
As a retired teacher, it’s important to me that ALL children have access to books: public libraries are awesome, but kiddos also need books to own! This week is a great way to celebrate Little Free Libraries, and the spirit of GIVING. <3
I love Little Free Libraries! My son built 2 of them last autumn for his Eagle Scout project. One is in our neighborhood and one near our parks and recreation department. We maintain both but have lots of help keeping them full by other users!
I have a little Free library, it’s so much fun!
Oh my goodness! I didn't even know I had one by me! Thanks for the map! I can't wait to participate this week!
I love the book boxes. I am always donating books and picking up a few. These are the best thing ever.
Where I live, Montreal Canada it is called Give a Book, Take a book.I love this idea and use it a lot!
For those looking for Little Free Libraries - the organization has a map: https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/
I love this idea! I first heard about this when I went to Denver, CO. It was in an airport. I just found out they have 3 free libraries in Tallahasse,FL. And I have a huge amount of books to donate.
Thanks for sharing the link! I found one walking distance away from my place. I will check it out this afternoon with my daughter! =)
As a dedicated bookcrosser I just love LFL's for sharing books. While on holiday travelling through North Carolina & the Virginias, I was so excited to come across some - made the holiday for me!
There are tons of them around Berkeley. Many of them are not officially Little Free Libraries. Many of the ones which are official LFLs choose to not display their location on the official map.Some are cleverly designed. Off the top of my head I remember two with plants growing on top, one with a chalkboard on top, one covered in Garfield cartoons, one that is 6 feet tall, two with benches attached, one with solar powered light, one which plays a recorded message when opened, one whose base is a tree trunk, two (next to each other) shaped like dachshunds, one which is only for books in French, one for music books (located inside the Jazz School), one had its own social media page (since removed), ...
Even more listed here: http://quirkyberkeley.com/rogue-littl...
One near me is so active that I frequently put a book in it on the way to lunch and it will be gone when I walk back on the way home. Others languish in obscurity with a collection that never seems to change.
This is a great movement, I love it. I wonder how do you deal with robbers, in my community there was a book kiosk and some people vandalized it, breaking the glasses and just throwing the books to the floor, they didn´t even were going for the books, they just are against anything good.
I had no idea these existed until this article. And apparently there are 7 in my little Idaho city!
Elyse wrote: "Christine wrote: "We have many Little Free Libraries here in Baltimore County, MD, as well as in nearby Baltimore City. Some nearby ones are found outdoors and very accessible on church grounds, st..."Thanks, Elyse! Loved yours, as well! : )
Elyse wrote: "This is wonderful!!! Thanks for this great attention to The Little Free Libraries.We have dozens -and dozens around our town in Willow Glen. I walk a lot and they are all such fun to peek into. O..."
What a lovely idea! I enjoy walking around my neighborhood -- there are four of these wonderful "libraries" in a one-mile radius. Leaving books inside and getting to borrow one feels a little bit like Christmas.
I am also lucky to have two Central libraries within walking distance of my home, but I like that there is no due date to return books to the little libraries, and if you really love them you can keep them. I like that I can give my favorite books, that I have read until I know every line by heart, and imagine that someone else will also have a little bit of Christmas. :)
Candi wrote: "I love Little Free Libraries! My son built 2 of them last autumn for his Eagle Scout project. One is in our neighborhood and one near our parks and recreation department. We maintain both but have ..."That is so awesome. I wish there were more Eagle Scout projects like this. Anything that promotes reading, that makes the project truly useful. Congrats to your son for receiving his Eagle Scout.
Thank you Elyse and Nancy for your very kind words! I'll get behind anything that will get more people reading! I have a pic of 'our' little free library on my profile page if you want to take a peek :)
Well holy magnolia, Batman, there's one right in my neighborhood. I've walked by (and wondered about) it hundreds of times, but never knew what it was, and it was far enough back from the street that I didn't feel at liberty to go investigate.
Elyse wrote: "I also created a Little Free Library in our detached guest room -- the AirBnb we host in the back of our house. Its filled with a wide variety of books our guests can take home with them.Our guest room is booked -- 95% to 100% every single day of the year. (its a spa/oasis retreat) --
I created a Little Free Library in our Airbnb room -- as a way to enjoy an immediate connection with our guests through books - and reading. Its turned out to be great fun. And we get authors who come here to stay a week with the intention of writing -- Having a quiet space. Twice -the authors mailed me a copy of their book that they wrote at place."
Very cool!
Emily wrote: "Well holy magnolia, Batman, there's one right in my neighborhood. I've walked by (and wondered about) it hundreds of times, but never knew what it was, and it was far enough back from the street th..."They should put up a sign explaining what it is! I also see some sometimes that have no sign and don't understand why the owners would assume anyone knows what the thing is.
I donate all my overflow (and that's BOXES) of books to my friend's LFL near Plummer Park in West Hollywood, CA. And she has back issue of good magazines like NYer, NY, Atlantic, ACLU and others too. Take one Leave One. Also kid's books. Find a book and go to the park and relax. What a wonderful idea!!!
Lovely idea. Doesn't work so well. Jerks in my city go around in cars (some high-end ones!) and scrape all the books into backpacks and bags. I assume they sell them. Better to donate to your local library, adult family home, skilled nursing facility, or VA Hospital.
John wrote: "Such free book exchanges exist all over Germany, albeit not under the name of Little Free Library. I have used them often and will continue to do so!"I never used them myself because most books were in German and I'm not proficient enough, but where I lived there were little libraries in carved tree trunks in the middle of the forest. They were beautiful!
Anonyma'am wrote: "Jerks in my city go around in cars (some high-end ones!) and scrape all the books into backpacks and bags. I assume they sell them. ..."That sometimes happens here, but not on such a large scale. Here people steal bikes and bike parts instead, or else break into cars to steal stuff. They mostly leave the books alone.
Some bookstores will refuse to buy books that have the words "Little Free Library" written or stamped onto the first page. So that can help with the problem. It happens rarely enough around here that I don't worry about it.
I just got back from a bike ride where I stuck in a copy of The Difference Engine and pulled out a copy of Recursion. Seems like a fair trade! And interesting coincidence since Black Crouch is pictured above putting a book in one.
Here in Australia, we have Street Libraries, some of which are affiliated with the Little Free Library organisation. There is also a growing number of "underground" street libraries not affiliated with either organisation. We've been having fun visiting our local street libraries, where I've found several new favourite authors. Some are the birdhouse-like libraries shown in this article, while other are made from recycled fridges, like the "Bizzy Bee" library below, and chilled drinks cabinets. I'm currently reading a book I found in an old spin dryer!
Susan wrote: "..."That one looks super! And it looks waterproof, too. Sadly some are not and I've had to discard some very moldy books.
Carolina wrote: " . . . where I lived there were little libraries in carved tree trunks in the middle of the forest."How charming!
I have a local one. Putting in Harry potter of course :)Hopefully there is someone in the world who hasnt read it
Elyse wrote: "This is wonderful!!! Thanks for this great attention to The Little Free Libraries.We have dozens -and dozens around our town in Willow Glen. I walk a lot and they are all such fun to peek into. O..."
Elyse wrote: "This is wonderful!!! Thanks for this great attention to The Little Free Libraries.
We have dozens -and dozens around our town in Willow Glen. I walk a lot and they are all such fun to peek into. O..."
That sounds like heaven! Do you think you could send me the link to your AirBnB? I would love to leave a book of my own!
There are no Little Free Libraries in my area whatsoever 😂 However I will be doing the "online version" in the near future, where you track your books instead, called www.bookcrossing.com - Despite there being no active members in my area either lol I will be reviving the trend, hopefully! Xxx
Back in the old days, Goodreads itself facilitated sending and receiving books between members. I enjoyed that.
There is at least one in Pittsfield MA on South Street right near the Berkshire Museum, however it’s not officially registered as it doesn’t show up on the map. Still happy to see it!
I'm going to put the pictures on my blog, but there is an official one up the coast from us, & an unofficial one in our towns laundromat. I have found some amazing books this way.
I drop books off at a Little Library in front of our Skyforest, California Post Office. I've yet to take any though. My TBR and regular library list is massive.
We don't have anything like this in South Africa. Unfortunately, not only would the books be stolen or set alight, the container would stolen just for the hell of it!!Hurrah for illiteracy!!!!
In the UK, we can use BookCrossing and "release" books into the wild to be found by another reader! And some villages have old phone boxes turned into book exchange posts!
There are two boxes in a 10-mile radius of our home in Glen Allen, Virginia. I placed a copy of "The Magician's Elephant" (Kate DiCamillo) in one outside the church in the neighborhood next to ours.
I put these books today here at Bhopal,Madhya Pradesh, India in Paras Hermitage Society park. this is the first time I'm doing this . Feels Good. Will be doing more ahead...I Do What I Do
Master Georgie
We have one at the bridge park near me in Louisiana. I walk here and will often bring a book or two and sometimes find something for myself. Its a cool idea!
So all the ones listed near me don't actually exist... is there a way to report that?
We have at least two Little Free Libraries in Meridian, Mississippi. I found them in Dumont Plaza and the train/bus depot. They were made by Boy Scouts for their Eagle projects.
