azucena
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Post by azucena on Jun 30, 2017 8:45:25 GMT -5
littlefreelibrary.org/
Does anyone here have one? As I've posted in another thread, we moved to a new house a few weeks ago. It has been a difficult adjustment for my almost 9 yo daughter; moreso than I would have thought because we moved 5 miles away and she's not changing schools. We've discussed as a family things that might help her. One thing we thought of was to host a little free library. We are on the corner of a fairly busy street (old house was way more secluded). She's a voracious reader and her current career aspiration is to be a librarian. She's on a first name basis with all of the librarians at our local library. We just surpassed our 4000th checkout since 2010 when she turned 2 and we began to use the library more (no longer tearing books and drooling LOL).
Anyway, I've got an email in to our HOA to verify that it's something we can do. Wouldn't want to get in trouble our first month. She helped write up the note so I hope that helps.
Curious if anyone hosts one. Even though we are a reading family, we purposely don't own a lot of books to save money and space. But, we constantly have books given to us that we would pass along through this library so funding the initial box setup and paying the $40 to be registered will be the main costs. I intend to have her actively involved in raising the money to get started. She's already talking about spreading the word for her birthday next month that contributions would be a great gift.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 30, 2017 9:00:05 GMT -5
I believe I have read about them in the past. Little free libraries were being set up under covered bus stops. Donate a book to pick up a new one.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2017 9:03:54 GMT -5
Huh. Never realized they were registered. They are all over around here. My uncle put one in front of my aunt's house after she died as a memorial to her because she read so much.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Jun 30, 2017 9:06:29 GMT -5
The only time I have seen these have been when we were on vacation. The resort we stayed at in the Maldives had one that we (TD, as I had my Kindle) used.
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ArchietheDragon
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Post by ArchietheDragon on Jun 30, 2017 9:11:04 GMT -5
I have a half built one in the basement. DW keeping asking my to finish it.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Jun 30, 2017 9:32:08 GMT -5
Sounds like a good idea. I've heard of them, but never noticed any around me, but there are a few within a few miles.
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busymom
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Post by busymom on Jun 30, 2017 10:13:33 GMT -5
We've got walking trails near us, and someone set up one of those little free libraries right on the trail. (They do remove it when Winter comes, but it "reappears" every Spring.) It's got the "take a book, leave a book" rule, and our neighbors have all put in the most interesting books. There are children's book, biographies, novels, history, everything you can imagine. DD even donated some kids books she'd grown tired of. Best wishes on setting one up, & I sincerely hope you get approval from the HOA.
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Anne_in_VA
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Post by Anne_in_VA on Jun 30, 2017 10:28:33 GMT -5
We've got them in our area. Many neighborhoods in our city have one or more and they're very popular. We've had several articles in the local paper about them and people are very supportive of them.
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Jun 30, 2017 11:17:50 GMT -5
We have one in my town. I'm starting a bastardized one at work, i.e., just using an old bookcase we already have instead of getting a cute box and registering it.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Jun 30, 2017 11:24:26 GMT -5
There several up in my neighborhood. We don't use them though.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Jun 30, 2017 11:39:54 GMT -5
There are a ton of unregistered ones around here. I've never stopped to check any of them out.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Jun 30, 2017 11:53:33 GMT -5
I thought about it at work. There were some voracious readers there who would leave books on the table for anyone who wanted them. A box would've been neater.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Jun 30, 2017 11:55:07 GMT -5
They are in the town where I do my shopping and are very popular.
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azucena
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Post by azucena on Jun 30, 2017 11:58:41 GMT -5
Registering will mean it is listed online which may mean we get more traffic. If nothing else, I don't mind supporting the idea of getting more people reading. There are only a handful within 15 miles of us and we're in St Louis suburbs so I found that a little surprising.
HOA responded with questions asking for more detailed info. Sounds like they are not opposed but would like to know more before they approve. •Drawing or pictures of the style, and materials (pictures of similar would be helpful) •Dimensions •Exact location of the library •Would there be advertisement? •Approval from your bordering neighbors via email or phone is great
All understandable, relevant questions. Going to work through them with DD and try to have her take the lead as much as possible. My family isn't too handy so we will probably go with an easy kit or there are ideas on the website about using things from Ikea. That will probably be the hardest question to answer right away for the HOA and is probably their one sticking point.
Getting permission from one neighbor shouldn't be too hard. We introduced ourselves when we saw their 14 yo daughter pitching in the yard with the dad. My daughter hadn't seen a fastpitch pitcher yet and was amazed so she's a fan of this teen already. The neighbor on the other side is elderly and immobile. We haven't met her yet but she sent her caretaker over with a potted plant and asked about our kids because she was watching our swingset moving in so she can see it from her bedroom which she enjoys. We tried to go over one day when we were all home but she didn't answer the door. Need to time our introduction with when she has someone there to help.
Our library will be kid focused and we should have no trouble filling it with the random books that we get. DD2 will start reading soon and then we will get the easy readers that we can pass along to others.
We are on one of the main routes to the subdivision pool so that might help move books.
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Sharon
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Post by Sharon on Jun 30, 2017 12:13:05 GMT -5
We have several little libraries in our area. It has been a while but there had been a couple of articles in the paper about some of the issues they were having. In one instance someone cleaned out all the books so they were having to start over. Another one was having troubles with someone leaving porn in the box. There is one close to my work that is in a community garden. I thought that was a cool idea.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Jun 30, 2017 13:15:59 GMT -5
They're everywhere in my neighbourhood. I've found some amazing books in them.
I was kicking myself for lending out one of my favourite books, and never getting it back.
Opened up the Book Box, and Ta Da! There was another copy.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Jun 30, 2017 13:38:37 GMT -5
Huh. Never realized they were registered. They are all over around here. My uncle put one in front of my aunt's house after she died as a memorial to her because she read so much. I love this idea for a memorial! I do not host one, but my town has 7 or 8 scattered around the various villages. I have borrowed from, and donated to, the one closest to my house. they are definitely a cool idea. I hope you can make it happen!
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teen persuasion
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Post by teen persuasion on Jun 30, 2017 21:08:33 GMT -5
I love Little Free Libraries!
My library has been trying to create one to put along the canal, for the summer boaters and locals. We've got a surplus of weeded and donated books to pass along, and we hope it would help people locate our library. We could either stock it with info/event flyers, or post our location and hours on a side. We just need to find someone to build it for us, and get the ok to place it along the towpath. It would be neat if it could be a replica of our building!
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Jun 30, 2017 21:21:49 GMT -5
We have one down the street from us.
My 5 year old likes to bike down to it, grab books, and come back home.
Our local news did a story once about a guy who bikes to all the little free libraries in our city like once a month as a hobby.
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travelnut11
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Post by travelnut11 on Jul 1, 2017 17:27:47 GMT -5
This idea started in my state so we have tons of them around. I don't know if I've actually used one though as I usually just go to the regular library.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jul 4, 2017 16:10:40 GMT -5
We have one on our street. My neighbor built it himself and it is on his front lawn. It is a memorial to his wife, who taught reading at a local children's center. The HOA approved it, no problem.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2017 16:29:13 GMT -5
I would donate books if you need to get started!
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Jul 4, 2017 16:43:37 GMT -5
A suggestion on the style would be to match the homes in your area.
We have lots of them in our city but no list on where they are. One is just children's books in front of a childcare building.
Some people have started a free pantry. It is large. People put nonperishable, easy open foods in it. I think it is on the college campus or downtown.
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finnime
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Post by finnime on Jul 5, 2017 16:59:53 GMT -5
We have a LFL on the path to the elementary school in the neighborhoodIt's well used. Only problem seems to be occasionally some kids will take out all the books, and leave them open on the ground. I wouldn't think you would have this problem on your own yard. I love the idea for your daughter, too.
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