Tiny library movement embraced by local communities

The News Tribune | Nicole Gaddie

“Take a book, leave a book.”

That’s the motto of Little Free Library, a community movement in the U.S. and worldwide that offers free books housed in small containers to members of the local community. In Tacoma and Seattle, the concept has quickly taken root.

With a mission of promoting literacy and the love of reading, residents can become “library owners” by creating their own library box — usually the size of a small birdhouse — registering it with Little Free Library and filling it with books.

The tiny libraries are usually placed outside a donor’s home and anyone is welcome to take or give a book.

“From the very first day, I noticed people using it. I’ll come home from work and see four or five new books. It’s mysterious and fun,” Seattle steward Pat Simpson said.

The idea of a book exchange was popularized by Todd Bol of Hudson, Wis., after his mother, a book lover and schoolteacher, died. Bol mounted a wooden miniature model of a library on a post on his lawn and filled it with books as a tribute. His idea spread rapidly as he partnered with friend Rick Brooks to expand the movement.

Four years later, all 50 states and 40 countries worldwide are involved in the literary program. There are 5,000 registered Little Free Libraries in the world, with an estimated 1,000 unregistered.

The genres of books vary, from cookbooks and magazines to fictional classics. Notes left behind show appreciation: “Thank you — this has got to be the coolest thing ever!” or “Little House on the Prairie was an awesome read.”

Bob Jones constructed his library at 91 West Road in North Tacoma after reading a newspaper article about the movement during a lunch break in November. Since then, he’s seen his little library receive constant use.

“If Oprah’s talked about a book, it’s probably in my box,” Jones said. “I always have between 25 and 35 books. My location is perfect because it gets heavy pedestrian traffic. I’d say no more than 90 minutes will go by without someone looking in it.”

R.R. Anderson became a forerunner of Tacoma’s book exchanges after his neighborhood library — Tacoma’s Martin Luther King Jr. branch — closed because of city cutbacks.

“I have an alleyway with a big ugly wall, and I heard a podcast talking about these new personal libraries,” Anderson said. “I thought, ‘Why not turn a secluded alleyway into a positive place?’”

Stadium Video donated shelves, allowing Anderson to expand the alleyway location with a substantial collection of books, DVDs, records and CDs. What he calls the Free-Radical Media Exchange now has a whopping 500-item assortment of materials with new books coming and going each day.

“The neighborhood has adopted it, there’s no vandalism, and we even have fresh raspberries people can eat while enjoying an afternoon read,” Anderson said.

So why are book exchanges gaining popularity?

“Community,” said Simpson. “I think it’s challenging for people living in neighborhoods to find each other, and this has been a chance for me to meet people in my area. It’s really fun. I’d recommend it to anyone.”