OUR LITTLE FREE LIBRARY

A New Garden Installation

One of our best garden installations has been our Little Free Library. This past winter I learned about Little Free Libraries through Kelly Rae Roberts’s blog. While exploring the Little Free Library website , I became totally enamored as I imagined a perfect marriage between Outdoor Classrooms and Little Free Libraries. So what is a Little Free Library?

The website describes a Little Free Library as, “A “take a book”, “return a book” where neighbors share their favorite literature and stories. In its most basic form, a Little Free Library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book to share.” This simple idea has turned into a “Little Free Library” movement across the country. These creative book boxes can be found all over the country in various locations. Ours is at the end of our driveway.

Like Outdoor Classrooms, each Little Free Library is a one of kind work of art, from whimsical to classic. My husband Doug made ours to match our white, historic, saltbox house. Since installing our “box of books”, I found our Little Library creating an energy in our community. Each visitor, leaving us with a morsal to add to our continued adventure of library stories.

Inside our Little Free Library are children’s books, adult books, cookbooks….you name it. Upon opening the library, one will also find a small blank book for visitors to leave a note. Outside, there is a small garden of hostas; along with a whimsical miniature garden called “Pixie Palace”. A friend donated an adorable little chalkboard where I now post daily messages. Welcome….“Little Free Library Chalkboard message project.”

Our Little Free Library experience is better than watching a bird feeder. We are tickled when a passer-by discovers our library and now find  joy in the most simple things.

The few notes from our “Take a Book-Leave a Book-Write a Note” booklet:

“I am a singer song writer and was inspired by one of your books. I am going to go home and write a song. Thank you!”

“Hi! Happened by on our bikes and took some books for camping next week. Promise to restock soon! PS. Clementine! Perfect”

“Hi, Thanks for the book-I’m from Virginia and my sister lives in Beverly. She plans on dropping off some of her many extra books to you.”

Incredible the people you meet at our Little Free Library. A week ago, I met an international studies professor from Madrid teaching Literacy at Endicott College. She left our house with a recycled book, a borrowed bike and a new friendship. Our paths overlapped simply because she was taking a walk to the YMCA for a swim and happened upon our Little Free Library.

What book are you reading today? Leave a message below and share your favorite summer read. You can also join the conversation and our community over in our Outdoor Classrooms Facebook Group. 

Want to dig deeper? Come join one of our Master Classes. Learn more HERE. 

Happy reading,

Victoria