Sunday September 9th, 2012 Little Free Libraries

Like finding a needle in a haystack; this was my reaction in discovering Manitoba’s smallest public library at 6 cubic feet, a cold hit when searching for a parking spot on a residential side street off Winnipeg’s busy Portage Avenue earlier this summer. Oddly it first appeared like a large decorative birdhouse was mounted on a post beside the sidewalk on someone’s lawn, but on closer inspection this structure was actually that of a model schoolhouse complete with functioning bell on top and posting a sign, ‘Little Free Library – Take a book, Return a book…Branch #1849’. Surprised to find this display and its glass front door revealing fully stocked books inside, my curiosity led me to homeowner Charlene Roziere who happily explains it as a free drop off and pick up point for books.  She referred me to the littlefreelibrary.org website where this network of Little Free Libraries (LFL’s) is based and run by private citizens. 

Although Roziere’s branch is unique in Manitoba, Little Free Libraries are actually part of a rapidly spreading grass roots movement of over 2500 libraries and counting that started in Wisconsin in 2009 and is now making inroads on Canada’s landscape. The LFL concept operates similar to that of public libraries but different in operating on an honour system. LFL’s appear in the form of schoolhouses, outhouses, phone booths, and newspaper stands, and are just as varied in locale from farm fields to high rise apartment buildings; there is even a branch at a dock for cottagers located on Kennisis Lake, north of Haliburton, ON.  Roziere’s own Winnipeg library in the few weeks it had been open has seen substantial turnover of material already proving its success.  Her library offers 24/7 service (no door lock), features a night light for insomniac page turners, and contains a charming guest book for those just wanting to say hi. 

The success of LFL’s is due in part to reductions or a lack of organized library service in many areas. Though LFL’s also appear in communities where there is a healthy library system and functions well as a tool to introduce literacy and form bonds between neighbours that may have lived as strangers otherwise.   

My quick scan of the LFL’s contents of about 70 titles shows a collection of fiction, non-fiction and children’s materials, proportionally not unlike the Thunder Bay Public Library’s own collection. If you happen in future to come across a LFL and enjoy any titles in the collection, keep in mind that you can continue reading in your chosen genre or author with a visit to TBPL. Because Little Free Libraries are in fact, well, small and limited in the variety they can offer. If you liked reading a John Grisham novel you found, you can follow up at TBPL with one of his other 144 titles. If you liked Janet Evanovich or Stephen King, we have 176 and 216 titles respectively.  In the non-fiction area, if you want to follow up on gardening, we have over 200 titles, a cookbook, more than 500, and if you want something suitable for children and youth, we have over 30,000 for you to choose from!
  
If this article piques your interest in setting up your own Little Free Library, a visit to the Friends of the Thunder Bay Public Library Bookstore is a great place to start your collection with affordable books to fill your shelves.  You can also take advantage of their popular buck-a-bag sales to fill your library faster.  If you need help building your own little library, browse our large selection of building guides. Find inspiration in books such as Shelves and Cabinets, The Complete Guide to Sheds, and Designer Birdhouses.

Arlene Danyleyko