A Little Free Library

For year’s my wife has been enamored by the idea of a Little Free Library (LFL). She envisioned it as a means of bringing together the neighborhood, engaging children in the importance of reading, and offering a local spot where young and old alike can browse the small shelves for a hidden gem.

And so, in my humble workshop, I went to work. It’s important to know that you can buy the kit, ready to assemble from various locations for as little as $150. You can also buy a pre-built version for upwards of $400. I decided I could build my own, and let’s just say the final cost fell somewhere in between the above figures (and let’s leave it at that).

All in all, I think it turned out pretty nicely. If I were to do it again, I would make some changes, but it seems to do the job.

And when I say “Job”, I don’t mean holding books so children will squeal with delight when they open the door. I actually mean that it was one of the best Christmas presents I’ve given my wife in many, MANY years. She was thrilled! All our kids pitched in to make it a great success, each supplying her new LFL with books of all kinds and for all ages.

I didn’t realize that one of the expectations when you are now the proud owner of a LFL is that you host a Opening Party. Of course, Anita was all about it and quickly went to work to create invitations announcing the opening day and time. We hand-delivered these invites throughout the neighborhood, and on a crisp spring morning, we had a whole group of neighbors come with bags and arm-loads of books to add to the collection.

If you’ve ever thought about hosting a Little Free Library of your own, I highly encourage it. We’ve watched grandmothers and their charges visit the library each evening. Children stop and check the inventory after getting off the bus in the evening. One day, two you girls took turns reading to one another at the foot of the Library, replacing books with those finished and moving on to the next.

I’m also surprised at the number of adults who take and leave books. Our neighborhood has some voracious readers! This is certainly a gift that keeps on giving and despite the initial investment, it’s worth every penny.