Building And Maintaining A Little Free Library

Details on building a Little Free Library!

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I can't believe I've had my Little Free Library in use for over a year now!

Building a Little Free Library was a dream come true for me.

I think it's important to bring books into communities that don't have easy access to libraries.  I live in a rural area where the nearest library is several miles away.  I saw a need for a library & made it happen.

In a funny twist, in the time it took me to install my library, our township also installed a lending library so our small town has two libraries!  I love it!

This post is about the logistics of Little Free Libraries.  I hope it inspires you to make your own!

 

So what is a Little Free Library?

A Little Free Library is a lending box placed in a public location where anyone can take or leave a book.  Unlike a traditional library, there are no due dates.  You can keep the book as long as you want.

The person who originated the library is called the library steward.  They're in charge of general upkeep of the library.

It was important for me to be registered through the Little Free Library program.  By purchasing an official charter sign, I was able to put my Little Free Library on the world map where anyone can search for libraries.  Only libraries with official charter signs can be placed on the map. 

Building a Little Free Library

Constructing the Little Free Library is entirely up to you.  While we built my library to match our home, they can also be simple.  You can even buy a sharing box kit on Amazon!

There are also lots of plans & blueprints on the official Little Free Library website. 

 

Adding books

A Little Free Library works well when there is a lot of community traffic where people are taking & leaving different books.  My library struggles a bit with traffic so I try to buy a few books to keep things fresh.

I love to buy books at thrift stores.  They are usually super cheap & you can sometimes find great titles.  I also used The Book Bundler last year & had a great experience.  They are always running deals & the books are delivered right to my door.

 Conclusion

Building a Little Free Library has been a great experience for me so far.  If you choose not to build a Little Free Library, I always encourage you to visit one.  Even though I have a library, I love to visit other Little Free Libraries when I find them.  You never know what you'll find!

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