Little Free Libraries

Hi ya! Thanks for clicking by! How're you doing today? Fair to middling? Ah well...hang in there. While I've got you, help yourself to a mug of coffee and a virtual doughnut, muffin or pastry. A question for you... what are you reading right now? Anything interesting? Well read on...

Little Free Libraries are springing up across North America. Yesterday, I attended a volunteer tutors' meeting at the Tri-County Literary Council and as I was going in, Carol Anne Maloney, the lady who gives out tutor assignments was coming out with an armful of books. She was putting them in their LFL (Little Free Library).

There was a clip on the Ottawa News the other night as well about LFLs. Anyone who has a bunch of books and wants to exchange them can start their own LFL... just by putting one out on their property. Put some books in it with a note that people are welcome to take a book and/or add a book. That way, they get more books to read and so do you.

It leads to interesting conversations with neighbours, too! Want to see some interesting designs? Go to images.google.com and key in 'little free libraries'. You will be amazed at the inventiveness of people.

A word of caution though. Several US municipalities are getting overly regulatory about it claiming that people have to apply for a permit to put one on their lawn (really?) or that it could interfere with fire departments or... (too much, eh!). Some Canadian municipalities have similar frustrating tendencies.

All it takes is one sour neighbour to complain to the city and whammo...they're on your case. Oh well. It is still a great idea to get more people reading and who couldn't use a little more quiet time curled up with a good book, wouldn't you say?

Want to build one of your own? Search Google for: little free library building plans

See ya, eh!

Bob