Book Hoarding. It's what I do. :)
But I have donated some books to the Little Lending Libraries that pop up all over - just, not ENOUGH books.
History of the Little Free Library Program
In 2009 Todd Bol came up with an idea to remember his mother, a teacher who had loved books and encouraged people to read. At his home in Hudson, Wisc., he built a box, made it waterproof and filled it with books. It looked like a miniature one-room schoolhouse, with a sign underneath that said “Free Book Exchange.” Bol put it on a post outside of his house and invited neighbors to take a book, and return a book.
That’s when something happened Bol says he never could have imagined.
“People of all ages, men, women, kids came up and just loved the library,” he said. “They got excited and they started coming up to me saying, ‘I’ll build one, do you need books?’” Now there are more than 150,000 registered Little Free Library book exchanges in all 50 U.S. states and over 120 countries around the world.
Visit www.littlefreelibrary.org, for suggestions on how to build your own library.
Here's another one (from 2013)
Have you spotted these little free libraries?
The system of people putting in a book when they take one seems to be working. Of the maybe 20 books inside the Beaverdale little library on Tuesday, Milne has added "maybe three."
"Flowers wilt, but we can look out our window and we can see this library all the time," said Milne.
Peeking inside the free little library in Urbandale, Cindy Walker found a surprise.
"Now some of these are not mine. Some childrens' books have appeared," said Walker.
She finds the library is also building community in a very busy world. "Because so many neighbors now, you don't even know your neighbors. You're so involved with your own activities," said Walker.
She said the point is just share what you have. "Kind of to bring back the old spirit like when people would talk around the water coolers at work," said Walker. "I do not want my books to stay in here. I want to share them with others."
Oooh so many good ideas!
Build a Little Free Library: Get your kids involved in creating something special
Build it from scratch, upcycle an old cabinet, or order a kit from the official LFL site – we all know that family projects are about the process of making something together and the conversations that happen along the way. Learn more about starting your own Little Free Library and get creative (Stick on wallpaper! Neon paint colors! Fairy garden features! Or rustic as an old mailbox!). Maybe instead of posting it in your yard, consider speaking to your children’s school or your favorite park about installing one? Maybe initiate an LFL project at a local community center?
If your family loves reading and talking about books, the best part is making a plan to keep it well-stocked. LFL has ongoing opportunities for book discounts and giveaways. I get a thrill from making a scavenger hunt of sifting through thrift stores for book treasures. Make an afternoon of it: say, today we’re looking for chapter books with strong female characters and let them go scouring the shelves of your closest Many Hands Thrift Market.
Or, let’s face it, if you have a book collection problem like me (the noblest vice), model the art of letting go to your young ones. Select favorite gems for your home shelves to share (this strategy also conveniently creates space to buy more books). Consider writing a little note in the book about what it meant to you to your family to share with the next person.
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