A few weeks ago, I fell in love with Little Free Library (thanks to Jess for the introduction). True is crazy about books and I thought it would be great way to meet more kids and neighbors in our hood. I had, HAD TO, have one in our front yard….The cool thing about their website is that they give you simple instructions to build one yourself or you can purchase one from their site. After looking at all the different options and getting inspired, my dad built this for us. He did an AWESOME job… and we just love it.
We’ve been doing some major work on our front yard – putting in veggie garden beds, new sod, rocks, and more. Adding in the library was the last little project for the yard and we LOVE it. Can’t tell you how many curious neighbors have stopped by. I’m hoping others will join us!
We’re including children’s books and a variety of grown up books (gardening, novels, etc) and thinking about putting in a magazine here and there. Friends, can’t tell you how much this delights me. I’m hoping more of these will pop up around our neighborhood. You can find other little free libraries in your area right here (they’re all over the US!) or even better, put one in your neighborhood! Love, love this brilliant idea.
I would totally love to have one of these in my front yard! And it would work so well with Bookcrossing.com!
that seals it, i am making one right now! stupendous idea.
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love this idea, but since i live in an apartment i can't join in the fun. last year i offered a bunch of books at work. i put them in the lounge with a note 'free to a good home'. the next day the pile was smaller and i thought 'yay'. come to find out from the janitor that someone was putting them in the TRASH!!!! So now when i share my books i set them next to me at my desk, so everyone can enjoy them.
That is the cutest little library ever! And the best idea too! Hope it gets lots of use. What a way to give back!
Brillant idea and i just love your yard.
That is so flipping cool. I love books more than almost anything (I say I can't die until all the books are read!). I would be stocking that thing constantly!
I loooove this idea!!! One of my local Etsy friends (and a member of the Sac Etsy team!) opened what I think is the first Little Free Library in the Sacramento area last year. Here's a link to a news article about Jef's library!
http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/57540/A_new_kind_of_library
this is maybe the coolest thing I've ever seen. a geek to the core, the library is one of my favorite places. to have a mini version in our own front yard, well that's just downright rad!
I cannot get over how adorable this is, not to mention the thought behind it. I hope it is used often by your neighbors.
I LOVE this idea. I live in the country with very few neighbors so it probably wouldn't work for me. But I'll pass it along to my in-town friends.
There's a little motel in our mountain town that has a veggie stand out front for locals to leave extras from their gardens and everyone else to help themselves. The little library would be a natural for them.
Hi! If you make these pictures more open, people can pin it to pinterest and really get the word out about little free libraries! Then more people will put them up! (I think you just have to change the setting of the photos in Flickr).
It's so beautiful! And how special that your dad made it. I love everything about this concept. 🙂
I too read this on Jess's newsletter and have one being made up for me as we speak as well. I think it may possibly be the first one in our state – and who knows,even perhaps down under 🙂 Happy bookworming and – and in the wonderful words of the Dr himself – “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” I'm thinking of painting this onto the side! Love yours – so cute!
A perfect Portland thing to do. Your yard is ultra-Portland. Been thinking about doing this too. Now I will go find the link for instructions on making one.
This is the coolest thing I have ever seen. What a great way to invite children to fall in love with books, esp if there is a little note inside the cover so kids can sign it after they read it. HOW SUPER FUN!!!!
Kelly Rae….what a super star you are….I am in South Africa, and I will most definitely be showing this brilliant idea over here! Awesome!!!
Gasp! What a wonderfully cute and fantastically friendly idea for any community. I love this so much. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
That's really cute!
This is so great! Is the little library weather proofed? Not that it ever rains here in South Texas…
I am all over this and will pass this idea along. Thanks for the heads up and BTW – Your dad did a GREAT JOB. That is so cute.
Mind you, in Portland, like me in Vancouver BC, we need waterproof versions for sure. 🙂
I was showing this idea to my daughter who desires to live in the city. I think it's awesome. Thanks for sharing!
Thats such a lovely idea. Not sure if they have them here in England, but i'll have to have a look. Your garden looks beautiful too. Kelly xx
Love that idea. I am part of Bookcrossing where you leave books for others to find, then pass on. But the idea of having it at home so you can meet the people who borrow the books is a lovely idea.
These are AMAZING!! Such a great idea and a lovely way to share books.
I am a huge fan of these Little Free Libraries! I love your, Kelly Rae!
In St. Paul, MN – there are 6 that I know of within less than a mile of my home… plus more all over town.
Sue – all of the ones I've seen here are in the actual yards and not the boulevard strip…tucked in as part of the landscaping and/or as a focal point for an area of someone's yard.
That is so fun! We are just about to move but this is going on the list for the next place we live for sure! I checked and no one in our town has done it yet?!
That is a really inspiring idea 🙂
this is so very cool!!!
Very clever! I'll be on the lookout for these around town.
Such a great idea! I love the weather vane on the top too. I would definitely stop and browse the selection if I passed by!
Now, THAT is the cutest thing!!! 🙂 Great idea & such a gorgeous little bookhouse. Your dad did a great job.
I love it!
So awesome Kelly Rae! Wish we could do something like that – or the plant beds — but in WI and CA those are the parkway areas – owned by the city! We can't change them but we're required to mow them. ugh
We have two of them in our neighborhood..I pass them on evening strolls and always check out the titles. Love yours.
This is clearly a sign that I need to make one of these for my neighborhood- I had never heard of such a thing & now I've seen it in 2 places this week! SO cute!
Thats awesome!
I saw my first one in Minneapolis, when we were visiting there a few weeks ago. Brilliant idea.
This was the most inspirational and informative -BLOGGYLAND- reading I've had in a while!
L-O-V-E the -pay it forward- {great movie} mentality! I've flagged this for a father {woodworker} & daughter {veracious reader} backyard summer moment for PL. I'm even thinking this would make a great project for the middle schoolers to build for the community!
To think the criticism I rec'd the summer I took the TV away and purchased an add'l. membership {still renew after 5 years} to a larger scale library for our daughter who was moving away from reading. My words to the critics, "Be thankful you don't live at our house or you'd be reading too!"
Keep the inspiration coming!
Most fabulous idea, Kelly!. Happiest idea I've seen today :). On sunny days you may even have a little tea party out in the yard, with kids playing with toys while mums have a book club meet. So fun! TFS.
Now that is deeply cool!