25000 free little libraries exist around the world

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://blog.sfgate.com/bookmarks/2015/04/17/uniting-neighbors-through-books-a-celebration-of-little-free-libraries/







It’s hard to believe that the Little Free Library movement is only six years old. Since 2009, when Todd Bol built the first one in Hudson, Wisc. — in honor of his late mother, a teacher — more than 25,000 of them have sprouted around the world.

It has to be one of this country’s better exports: a simple box that people design themselves (often getting very creative) and that unites readers through a “take a book, return a book” honor system. It’s estimated that more than 35 million books are traded in the libraries.

“The reason Little Free Library has been successful is that people tell us, constantly, ‘I’ve met more neighbors in a week than I’ve met in thirty years,” Bol says. “It engages and brings neighborhoods together, and folks talk to each other more than they ever have.”

[pipoman]

1. is this a way to get rid of the boxes of books we quit

Accumulating 4 years ago with Kindle...books aren't heavy, dusty, bulky any longer...nice idea .

[petronius]

2. I just saw one of those for the first time a day or so ago - very cool!

We're planning to add a book or two, and do some reading...

[Lifelong Protester]

3. Our school has sponsored 4-5 of them

The one outside of our school is a replica of the Little House in the Big Woods.
Great way to recycle books, I think.

[postulater]

4. I have a little free library for dogs.

Two times out of three when I go into the woods beside my house I find balls. Tennis balls, softballs, wiffleball's, golf balls, rubber balls, hard balls, small balls, large balls. I have no idea how they get there, whether they are thrown or dropped by birds.

I have a collection of these balls in my garage. I have set several balls at a time out on the street beneath my mailbox for use by neighborhood dogs. It is a take a ball, leave a ball arrangement that the dogs seem to like.

I still don't know why there are so many balls in my woods.

[beam me up scottie]

5. LOL!

I've seen a coyote steal one of our dog's toys, maybe they're collecting them in your woods?

We have an exchange system for cat toys but it doesn't work very well.

[juxtaposed]

6. in my neighborhood i know of 2. My neighborhood is very right wing and christian, so i

recoil about placing a little book stop of what i like in front of my home.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. I have one. Put it up a couple years ago.

It's been interesting to see the books come and go. There's quite a lot of turnover and it seems to be completely self-sustaining now.

[Liberal_in_LA]

11. I didnt this trend existed until I read the article.

[pablo_marmol]

8. My sister and I set one up in her front yard about a year ago.

Nearly every time I'm over we see a mom or dad stop by with their kids. Very uplifting.

[lovemydog]

9. Love it. I need to do one on my porch.

I love books and it would be a nice way to share after I've read them.

[davidpdx]

10. We do this in a different way in South Korea

There are book exchanges in various places, often restaurants where you can leave a book and pick one up. Books are quite expensive here (especially ones from back home). We also do the same through our offices at work. From time to time I look at the ones sitting in the office I work at and someone sure reads a lot of Steven King. I have a ton of books (both physical and e-books) that I haven't read, so I'll be good for awhile.