Little Free Libraries at SRCSA

Our ever-generous parent-volunteers recently installed a couple of Little Free Libraries at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts.
https://youtu.be/dcV9VY6AtmE

Book-Talk : The Lost Library

In my latest video review: The Lost Library, by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass, was a quick read with an engaging mystery. It concerns the sudden appearance of a “little free library” on the Martinville town green. The “little free library” is filled with books that were returned to the public library on the day it burnt down 20 years ago. I admit that, inasmuch that I was caught up reading this story, I was very frustrated with the town of Martinville: In 20 years, why hadn’t anyone rebuilt the town’s public library?
https://youtu.be/p0QWNDlGhNg

‘Little Free Library’ at Montgomery High School

I encountered this Little Free Library on Thursday, while at Montgomery High School. (I’m working there this summer for high-school credit recovery, offered by Santa Rosa City Schools.)

I love the community book-exchanges that little boxes like this facilitate — and seeing this little library brought an article to mind, which I’d read in the Press Democrat: several lending libraries are “sprouting up” in the area as part of recovery from last October's wildfires.

Students from MHS and other local high schools were involved in building the libraries. Construction was financed by United Way Women United and the Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation Sonoma County, along with help from sponsors.

The PD article states, the project gave students “real-world experience working with clients,” and quotes Jared McGee, an MHS sophomore who aspires to be an architect:

“‘It’s the light at the end of the tunnel. … All the kids affected (by the fires) and the people affected can give back to the community and give books to the library and take books out if they need it. It was a really good feeling to give something to a community that was hurt.’”

‘Little Free Libraries’ in Ashland, Oregon

File photo/Little Free Library

What a wonderful surprise during our first year in Ashland, Oregon, to discover “Little Free Libraries” appearing on residential streets.

I love these little cabinet-like structures that are filled with free books. An article in the Ashland Daily Tidings profiles some library builders.

‘Little Free Libraries’ top 3,000

Source: Little Free Library

At FastHorseInc.com, Diane Fittipaldi makes an interesting analogy: the growth of “Little Free Libraries” around the world is a type of microlending.

‘Little Free Libraries Are Coming to Town’

Source: Little Free Library

As reported by Michael Kelley in Library Journal and summarized on Utne.com, Rick Brooks and Todd Bol are on a mission to top Andrew Carnegie’s 2,509 libraries.

“The diminutive, birdhouse-like libraries, which Brooks and Bol began installing in Hudson and Madison, Wisconsin, in 2009, are typically made of wood and Plexiglas and are designed to hold about 20 books for community members to borrow and enjoy. Offerings include anything from Russian novels and gardening guides to French cookbooks and Dr. Seuss.”