Take a Book, Leave a Book: The Goal of the Little Free Library

By Roni Lakin

Summer 2023 Intern

You’ve likely come across at least one Little Free Library in the past couple years. These public mini-libraries look like some sort of cross between an artisan birdhouse and a bookshelf, and their numbers are growing rapidly. What you may not know is that the over 100,000 little free libraries across the country started with one man.

Todd Bol built the first Little Free Library in his yard as a tribute to his late mother, who was an avid reader. With help from a friend, Bol went on to construct more miniature libraries across the midwestern United States. By 2012, Little Free Library was an official nonprofit organization focused on promoting literacy and community engagement by helping others build their own miniature lending libraries.

The concept behind these Little Free Library is beautifully simple: take a book, leave a book. In a time when more than 40 million adults in the United States have low or no literacy skills, Little Free Library offers a glimmer of hope. The book-sharing boxes are open 24/7, granting free access to books in underserved urban, suburban, rural, and Indigenous communities. This access helps foster a love for reading and learning. On average, one book is shared through these libraries every day, touching lives and creating a sense of community. An impressive 92% of people report that their neighborhoods feel friendlier and more connected due to the presence of a Little Free Library.

Starting your own Little Free Library is easy. You can either build one yourself, adding your own personal touches to its design, or you can purchase a library box from the official Little Free Library online store. The boxes arrive undecorated, providing the perfect canvas for your creativity to shine. Once you’ve assembled and decorated your miniature library, fill it with books and add its location to the interactive map so that others can easily locate your tiny reader’s paradise. The map offers a digital treasure hunt for literature lovers, helping people discover new reads just a short walk away.

Did You Know??

The Little Free Library movement has inspired other community lending programs and art displays, including an exchange for knitting materials (@littlefiberlibrary) and a mini art gallery (@littlefreeartgalleryatl).