Little Libraries

In the Old West End of Toledo, there is a little library with free books. You know, the get a book, leave a book concept.

These have popped up all over the place in communities around the world. Besides the little library on the corner, there is one at the Toledo Museum of Art. That is two little libraries within walking distance from my home. And my wonderful husband, the real reader in the family, has picked up a gem at both of these book knocks.

Did you know that there are little libraries around the world? Check out their page: Little Free Library. You can search for officially registered little libraries on their map. There are so many in the Toledo area as you can see in the map from Little Free Library’s website below that I captured today

Registered Free Little Libraries in Toledo Ohio captured on November 24, 2020.

The little library in my neighborhood isn’t registered but it is loved.

The little library idea kind of represents the concept that I want to explore as I talk to people around Toledo: someone took a small step by building a little covered set of shelfs, put it on a post in their yard, added some books, and voila, a little library was born. In this neighborhood’s case, the little library is a group effort now. When the wind or someone knocks the door off, a message goes out in the community, and someone else fixes the door. I don’t know if it has the same effect on everyone, but I smile each time I see that little green and purple book house.

One little act has changed that corner and connected people in a way that wasn’t possible before they made that little library. I do not know the person who originally added the library to their yard, but at some point I would love to meet them and learn more about their backstory.