Starting My Little Free Library

In the spring of 2017, I installed a little free library in my yard, and it’s been a big hit in my neighborhood. I love looking out my window and seeing people going through my stock or taking photos. The Little Free Library Project is a great nonprofit organization, and I’m happy to contribute to it in some small way. Here is how I started my little free library.

The history of the Little Free Library Project

The little free library project is a nonprofit started in 2009 by the late Todd Bol. Inspired by the “take a book, leave a book,” baskets found in coffee shops, he began making models of miniature school houses and filled them with books. There are now over 75,000 registered libraries as the result of the program.

The Little Free Library website has several library models that you can buy and install yourself. You can choose from models that are pre-built or ones that you have to assemble yourself. But you don’t have to buy the kit from their site in order to join their program.

Where to buy

I bought my library on Etsy. It came unpainted. So, I was able to paint it however I wanted. It was first a turquoise and then later red to emulate the Snoopy’s dog house theme that I ultimately decided on. Since then, I added thick, black lines to really make it look like the dog house and created several themed wood cutouts of Snoopy which I switch out as the seasons change. 

My library didn’t come with any way of mounting it. So, I had to buy a piece of wood from the hardware store and paint it as well. Then, I bought a plaque on the little free library website and registered my installed library as part of their program. This isn’t a requirement of owning a Little Free Library, but I wanted to be a part of the organization, and I’ve benefitted from a lot of the giveaways and other resources that they run in their online newsletter. 

Other people have built their own libraries out of numerous materials. I’ve seen ones made out of old microwaves, tree stumps, and cars. Some are shaped like fire engines, RV’s, and rocket ships. Others are painted in particular designs or light up at night. I like the idea of repurposing an item that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

You can also find the Little Free Library Program on Facebook, X and Instagram. Be sure to sign up for their newsletter to receive news on sales, giveaways, charitable causes, and more. 

Library sightings

I see little free libraries everywhere. The LFL website includes a map that can help you locate all of the registered libraries established all over the world.

One summer, I drove around to each of the libraries in my area and added books to each one. It was interesting to see how many were uniquely themed or contained only specific types of books. 

There are no real rules as to how to create a little free library. The LFL website likes to profile some of the more creative ones in their newsletter. That’s what inspired me to turn my plain, turquoise library into Snoopy’s doghouse.

I also added a clasp so that the door stayed closed on windy days. The clasp is a little awkward, and I see patrons fumbling with it all the time, but securing it for them gives me all the more reason to go out and check on my inventory after someone leaves with or adds books. 

Location and popularity

One complaint that you could have about my library is that it’s in a suburban neighborhood which includes a public library. People are well enough off that they can buy all the books they want. Many of the libraries purchased are meant to be installed in places where residents don’t have as much access to free books.

But the popularity of my library shows that people from all over appreciate free books. They take and leave books regularly. And so many have stopped me while riding by or walking their dogs to ask me about my library. Some have even told me they’re inspired to install one themselves. 

During Covid, when our public libraries were closed due to quarantine, my LFL was super busy. I often had to remove books just because they were so crammed in, and once, I had a phantom patron leave an entire box full of books on my doorstep which took years before I was able to unload them all, either in my own LFL or others in the neighborhood. A lot of them were nursing books, and I couldn’t tell if they were up to date, but others were paperback and hard copy novels which I knew would be a hit, and they were. 

My library is a revolving door of content. It’s open 24/7, 365 days a year, and it encourages people to get out of the house and walk over to grab something to read at their convenience. I always try to keep a mixture of genres in there for whoever might come by. 

Some visitor stories

Once I saw a man walk down the hill with two children. When one of the children, a little girl, opened it up, I heard her exclaim, “They have kids books!” From then on, I made a mental note to always keep it stocked with picture books, middle grade, and YA novels.

Another time, there was road construction occurring on my street. Part of the crew was a flagger who was only needed occasionally. So, he stood around all day with not much to do. At one point, I saw him rooting through the library, and the next thing I knew, he was sitting on my neighbor’s hill across the street reading. 

I’ve also had neighbors I’ve never spoken to drive by and stop me in the front yard to ask about my library. They want to make sure they’re following the rules and using it right, and I assure them that there are no rules. You can take or leave as many as you want, and you never have to return them, unless you want to. 

Maintaining my library

Each year, my little free library gets a new paint job.  I also added a clasp to keep the door from opening on windy days. 

I try to keep my library well-stocked while still leaving room for others to leave books. For obvious reasons, the circulation is higher in the summer months than in winter. Either way, I try to check it once a week and occasionally remove books that don’t seem to be circulating. They are added to my ever-growing stockpile of books that I then put back into the library at a later date or stick in another library in my neighborhood.

Vandalism is common among little free libraries. I’ve been lucky enough that the exterior of my library has never been marked or damaged. However, for some reason, people liked to steal the little autograph book that I used put in there for patrons to leave messages or just sign their name and date so that I can keep track of when people visit. Twice this book was stolen from my library, and that has prevented me from adding a third. Walkers and bus stop commuters also like to use it as a trash bin to store old papers or wrappers that they want to get rid of. But I’ll take those inconveniences over significant damage any day.

Decorating for holidays

I also like to decorate my library for the holidays. On Halloween, I wrap it in pumpkin strings and add gel stickers to the window. At Christmas I decorate in Christmas-light shaped beads and bows. One year, I wrapped some books and DVD’s in wrapping paper. On the outside, I wrote clues as to what was inside, and patrons could take them as gifts. Sometimes I add wrapped candy, and year round I leave mini erasers for people to take. I’ve even left tomatoes from my garden inside which people seem to happily scoop up. 

I hate the idea of being married to one design, even one as cute as Snoopy. So, swapping out the different Snoopy plaques for different seasons keeps things fresh and exciting. 

Tips for starting your Little Free Library

So, if you’re thinking about getting a little free library, here are some tips:

Purchasing

• The libraries themselves can run a few hundred dollars. If you are or know a good woodworker, consider having them build you a house. Or buy one of the kits that you assemble, but get some help if you’re inexperienced. Or do what I did and buy it from a site like Etsy. It still ran about $200. I also needed to buy the pole and the registration plaque separately along with paint.
• If you buy an unpainted library, make sure you buy outdoor paint and some weatherproofing spray. Painting can take several days. I painted mine indoors in a back room with tiled floors that I could cover in newspaper. I had to apply several coats to each section. One side took several hours to dry before I could flip it over and do the other. Take your time and cover every section smoothly and completely. Make sure to put newspaper over the glass and hinges so that you don’t drip paint onto them.  

Designing and installing

• It’s recommended that you cement your pole into the ground. I didn’t, and my eroding yard tends to cause it to lean. 
• I recommend putting it at the eye level of a child without being so low to the ground that a full grown adult has to stoop down low to see inside. 
• Visit other free libraries in your area to get ideas on size, design, and theme. Talk to the owners if you see them, and ask them any questions that you may have.

Maintenance

• Make sure that nobody in your area has had a library in the past and been forced to take it down. It hasn’t been a problem in my community. But I have read about others forcing people to take down their libraries because it is considered illegal according to their borough or town codes.
• Touch up or repaint/seal each year.
• Check your library often to make sure it is well-stocked, there is no inappropriate content in it, and that the books are well-organized. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see any circulation for a few weeks. Try swapping some books around so that your regulars have more to choose from. Also, always keep spare books aside so that you can restock at any time.
• Include a sign-in book so that you can find out who regularly visits your library and give people the opportunity to leave questions and comments – assuming that they don’t steal it like my patrons did.

Buy it!

Buy a copy of Little Free Libraries and Tiny Sheds here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.

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