I love the recent trend of "little free libraries" that are popping up around the globe. Although I still believe in traditional libraries due to the greater depth of their offerings and resources, these micro-libraries are a great idea for areas that aren't served by traditional institutions because of their remoteness, natural disasters, or budget cuts.
What is a "little free library"? Although the idea probaby isn't new, the nonprofit group that started actively promoting them was formed in 2009 by Todd Bol and Rick Brooks in Wisconsin in an effort to promote literacy. Some are as small as a mailbox, some as "large" as a phone booth, but they all share the "take a book, return a book" philosophy. You can buy a box directly from the Little Free Library website, download plans to make one, or create one yourself.
Their original goal was 2,150 little libraries, but as of January of this year, there were over 15,000 in all 50 states and 40 countries. For a small fee, Little Free Library owners can put their library in a database so that others can find them, and the website even maintains a map.
They're not completely without controversy, though, as some such efforts, including one set up by a 9-year-old boy, have run into local opposition due to concerns about ordinance violations and — yes, unfortunately — NIMBYism.
Here are some of the more traditional ideas:
And a few of the more whimsical:
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