Little Free Libraries (LFL) are a growing trend with more than 21,000 of them around the world (most in the USA).
The LFL philosophy, to quote the LFL website:
It’s a “take a book, return a book” gathering place where neighbours 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.
I love the idea. Anything to help people read is a fabulous thing in my world. And that it can create a sense of community is a bonus.
I’m thrilled the trend has reached Canberra:
September 21, 2018 at 9:11 pm
There are little free libraries popping up in my Canadian city as well. I have one right across the street from me, at the Presbyterian Church. I’ve dropped books off there. Seen many use it.
Another trend that was big a few years ago was called something like Books in the Wild (sorry, I forget). People would leave these numbered books in random places like park benches (I found one on a trolley car in San Francisco). You were supposed to log that you found it on a website and then read it and drop it somewhere again. I took mine back home to Canada and left it at the airport. Wonder if it is still circling the globe?
October 14, 2018 at 6:22 pm
I didn’t know about the logging on the website thing, but over here people would leave books with a “free to take” label on it. It’s still happening (in Canberra at least) because I see them occasionally.
September 21, 2018 at 9:44 pm
Oooo I love seeing these! We have them in Toronto and even in my parents little country town!
October 14, 2018 at 6:24 pm
It’s cool they are springing up everywhere!
September 21, 2018 at 10:07 pm
Bookcrossing.com – found the site! Looks like it is still going strong, however I have not ever found another “book in the wild” here in Canada. AJ, have you ever heard of this or found one of these books?
Deb
October 14, 2018 at 6:25 pm
Definitely none that have a website on it. It would be kinda fun to see how your book criss-crosses the globe though.
September 22, 2018 at 12:24 am
I love that. I wish I’d do it.
October 14, 2018 at 6:27 pm
I think that too, Jacqui, but I don’t really have anywhere around our place to put it.
September 22, 2018 at 6:32 am
There’s an impressive one at Melbourne Central, an entire room. You can see it when you get here next year. Someone must be paying for that room, not sure who, but there’s a floor to ceiling set of shelves and you can just come and drop something in or help yourself. When I’ve been taking my students to the Melbourne Writers Festival or Reading Matters student days, we go to Melbourne Central for lunch and to travel back, and they always leap on the books with cries of delight.
October 14, 2018 at 6:28 pm
Oh my gosh, Sue. That sounds marvelous!! That is such a generous thing someone is doing (and I’d love to see it).
September 23, 2018 at 9:27 am
They’re a blessing and a curse. There’s a guy with a book wagon locally who’s had issues with his books being stolen and such. Some of us have sucky neighbors.
October 14, 2018 at 6:30 pm
It doesn’t matter how nice some people are, there’s always others at the other end of the “human spectrum” to ruin it. It is one of the things I’d be concerned about.