I love them. Such a super idea. It is RAOK at its finest and cutest. It makes me smile when I go for a walk in a new neighborhood or new town and see them. I gander inside to see what book options are provided. Looking at their Facebook page, I am amazed by the pictures of the creativity in making each library personalized.
From the Wiki page:
The original goal was the creation of 2,150 Little Libraries, which would surpass the number of libraries founded by Andrew Carnegie. As of January 2014, there are over 15,000 Little Libraries worldwide. As of February 2013, all 50 U.S. states and 40 countries worldwide have been involved in the program. An estimated 1,650,000 books were donated and borrowed from 2010 to 2013.
When a friend’s mother passed, she asked for in lieu of flowers if donations could be made so she could set up a Little Library in her mother’s name. She received such an outpouring of support she made two Libraries and frequently does drives at her church to help stock them.
Unfortunately they are a huge target for vandals. The library at the top of the post should have a bulls-eye on it. This little blue library sits outside of an elementary school. When I go today on my lunch hour, I will have fixed it 4 times. The first time, I really took my time and re-painted it and cut plexi-glass, caulked the edges. I stocked it with kids books (elementary range). It lasted 2 weeks. Now I use a clear shower curtain, cut to size, stapled in and duct taped. I think, the vandals and I are in a chess game to see who gives up first. I have news for them, I can be tenacious when I want to be. Plus if I can touch one child with the gift of a book, the gift of escape reading, prod their imagination, give them a gateway to dream… then vandals, Checkmate! because I can fix this library every three weeks for years.
PS Karma gives a hat tip… the little blue library was empty of kids books when I fixed it today and my stock pile is low… but the library is having a Friends of the Library book sale… all books .25. My stock pile runneth over!
kkdonk 