Hi Readers!
“Little free libraries are an oasis of serendipity in what is a fairly programmed age.” – p. 89
All libraries are beautiful in their own way. Many of the libraries we interact with today are town or county libraries and they don’t offer much in the way of inspiring architecture and breathtaking stacks (see the Trinity Library in Dublin for that kind of beauty), but they are still beautiful because they contain thousands of stories for you as long as you have a library card.
I imagine you make a trip several times a month to pick up books you have sitting on the hold shelf (and if you’re anything like me, you spend ten to fifteen minutes on your way out perusing the thrift shelf and end up purchasing three or four new titles to add to the stack of books you tell yourself that you’ll get to . . . eventually). Isn’t it wonderful getting a phone call or an e-mail from the library letting you know your books are ready for you to pick up? I’m fairly certain that librarians at my local library are sick of calling me because I put stuff on hold so often.
Admittedly, I take this wonderful facility for granted. I’ve always lived within ten minutes of a library and spent many summers during my childhood knee deep in books as I participated in the library’s summer reading program. There are countless communities around the United States (and the world, for that matter), however, that do not have access to a library. Enter The Little Free Library.
When I read The Little Free Library Book by Margret Aldrich (one of our April Picks), I fell in love with the book community all over again. Created by Todd Bol, The Little Free Library is a grassroots effort to get books into the hands of people all over the world – especially those without access to a library.
The Little Free Library website offers the following description:
“It’s a ‘take a book, return a book’ gathering place where neighbors share their favorite literature and stories. In its most basic form, a Little Free Library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book to share.”
What a sweet concept! I encourage you to check out the book and the website to learn more about the program. The website even features a map so you can find Little Free Libraries in your area. Aldrich’s book offers a collection of pictures of the libraries and stories of their stewards. A Little Free Library is not only an outlet to share books with neighbors, but an opportunity to build real community. What better way to build relationships than over a shared interest in reading?
Did you get a chance to read it? What is your reaction? Leave a comment below with your thoughts and be sure to tag your copy of the book on instagram with #TWTBookshelf.
Live, Love, Learn,
Candice & The Write Teacher(s)