Little Free Libraries

What a delightful idea! An irresistible invitation!!

A simple weather-proof box, located just about anywhere, full of books for all ages. Anyone is welcome to wander by and take a book provided they also make sure to return and leave a book. Books circulate, connections are made and neighbourhoods are strengthened with this self-sustaining little investment.

The Little Free Library movement began in 2009 in Wisconsin, USA when Todd Bol built a model of a one room schoolhouse, filled it with books and placed it in his front yard as a tribute to his mother - an avid reader and schoolteacher. This was so well-received that he started building them as gifts for friends and neighbours. Rick Brooks recognized the potential of this initiative as a social enterprise and together with those volunteer early adopters, they started a movement. More about the history of this endeavour here.

A book for all seasons

Here's a short video of a Little Free Library in action.

By building the Little Free Libraries out of recycled materials, providing a website with full DIY instructions, where Little Free Libraries can be purchased or sponsored, establishing a central map for plotting the libraries worldwide and a forum where the volunteer stewards of each library can connect, this front yard project has now become a global force.

"By January of 2014, the total number of registered Little Free Libraries in the world is conservatively estimated to be between 10,000 and 12,000, with thousands more being built."

In Ghana …

In Canada …

In Brazil …

Free public libraries, traveling book mobiles and small indoor "take a book, leave a book" collections all belong to this family of inspired community building projects aimed at promoting literacy.