Little Free Library Etiquette

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t do a diverse book themed one. That will sound like you are judging the nearby LFL for being insufficient LW diverse.

If people really think that way, it’s sad.

[Anonymous]

I live in a neighborhood with so many Little Free Libraries. Even some just a few houses apart. It's awesome! It becomes a destination to get my lazy kids to go for a longer walk. It's great that there are two in one block because if I have a bunch to donate, I can just add to whichever one has more space at that time or split the load. I've met wonderful neighbors at their little Free Libraries, too, so it seems like a good way to get to meet people near your new house.

If you're really worried, leave a note for the current Library owner with your contact info explaining how you're just moving in and was wondering if they would mind if you also had a Library.

I will say that the best curated little Free Libraries seem to be owned by former teachers or librarians clearing out their stash or by people who regularly check the contents and augment the findings from thrift stores.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Good luck. My parents had one and would put curated books in it, but no one ever took them and instead people dumped stuff no one would ever want to read there (think 30 year old textbooks).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t do a diverse book themed one. That will sound like you are judging the nearby LFL for being insufficient LW diverse.

If people really think that way, it’s sad.

I wouldn't say that in general about a DEI-focused LFL, but OP is specifically worried about causing offense by putting up a LFL too close to the other one, and I think doing anything with a moral tinge to it is more likely to come across as trying to outdo the neighbors.

"My LFL brings all the kids to the yard, and they're like it's better than yours."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in a neighborhood with so many Little Free Libraries. Even some just a few houses apart. It's awesome! It becomes a destination to get my lazy kids to go for a longer walk. It's great that there are two in one block because if I have a bunch to donate, I can just add to whichever one has more space at that time or split the load. I've met wonderful neighbors at their little Free Libraries, too, so it seems like a good way to get to meet people near your new house.

If you're really worried, leave a note for the current Library owner with your contact info explaining how you're just moving in and was wondering if they would mind if you also had a Library.

I will say that the best curated little Free Libraries seem to be owned by former teachers or librarians clearing out their stash or by people who regularly check the contents and augment the findings from thrift stores.

Good luck!

Agree with all this - we actually have an LFL, and so does a house across the street, and one down the street. There's one a couple of blocks down, and more throughout our neighborhood. There's a lot of turnover in everyone's library, and some people do library walks just to see what everyone has. It's been a really nice addition to our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

My old neighborhood was chock full of them. Some were mixed adult + kid books. Some were strictly adult books...nonfiction, mystery, cookbooks, etc. Some seemed to attract more baby / toddler books. And some kids chapter books. There was even a Lego minifig "free library". I just assume it had to do with the population of those in the house at the time. Nothing seemed weird or competitive.

And they all had lots of those annoying bible tracts someone liked to go around distributing despite written signage requesting they not get left inside...

[Katrinka]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t. They are cool in theory. But in my experience, are lame. In wealthy neighborhoods, the families are already going to the regular library weekly at least or are buying plenty of books. In the neighborhoods where kids might not have access to books frequently- they either aren’t used or nothing gets replaced. Even in the neighborhoods were they are used, the replacements are not good books. They are the cast offs grandma got the kids from Goodwill, free at Dr office, random religious book and so on.

Agreed. It's a cute concept but the quality of books in them tends to be super low, and agreed that the neighborhoods in which they tend to exist generally have plenty of access to books. Donate the books to your school or local library IMO.

A similar cute neighborly concept if you live in an area with lots of dogs is a "dog toy library" that you can stock with tennis balls or people can leave their dog's hard toys and swap out to keep things interesting for their pups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t. They are cool in theory. But in my experience, are lame. In wealthy neighborhoods, the families are already going to the regular library weekly at least or are buying plenty of books. In the neighborhoods where kids might not have access to books frequently- they either aren’t used or nothing gets replaced. Even in the neighborhoods were they are used, the replacements are not good books. They are the cast offs grandma got the kids from Goodwill, free at Dr office, random religious book and so on.

I agree. I love these in theory, and in theory, the more the merrier in a neighborhood, but in practice it's just a way for people to discard books that no one wants to read. This PP's description fits all of the LFLs near my house, right down to the random religious books. One neighbor didn't like the books that people contributed to her LFL and actually emailed the listserv to recommend types of books that people should contribute (e.g., we need more kids' books), which I found incredibly tacky.

[Anonymous]

Don’t overthink it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t. They are cool in theory. But in my experience, are lame. In wealthy neighborhoods, the families are already going to the regular library weekly at least or are buying plenty of books. In the neighborhoods where kids might not have access to books frequently- they either aren’t used or nothing gets replaced. Even in the neighborhoods were they are used, the replacements are not good books. They are the cast offs grandma got the kids from Goodwill, free at Dr office, random religious book and so on.

I agree. I love these in theory, and in theory, the more the merrier in a neighborhood, but in practice it's just a way for people to discard books that no one wants to read. This PP's description fits all of the LFLs near my house, right down to the random religious books. One neighbor didn't like the books that people contributed to her LFL and actually emailed the listserv to recommend types of books that people should contribute (e.g., we need more kids' books), which I found incredibly tacky.

Wow..I guess I live in a lucky neighborhood with people sharing good books! Its of course not the library. That is like comparing Target to a yard sale. Both have their places.

[Anonymous]

The ones in our neighborhood are constantly turning over. No textbooks either. If you’re on a busy street there’s no reason to not set one up, I’m sure all will be utilized. If your concerned you could ask neighbor how they picked their design and registered- it opens the conversation and might defuse any concerns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t. They are cool in theory. But in my experience, are lame. In wealthy neighborhoods, the families are already going to the regular library weekly at least or are buying plenty of books. In the neighborhoods where kids might not have access to books frequently- they either aren’t used or nothing gets replaced. Even in the neighborhoods were they are used, the replacements are not good books. They are the cast offs grandma got the kids from Goodwill, free at Dr office, random religious book and so on.

I agree. I love these in theory, and in theory, the more the merrier in a neighborhood, but in practice it's just a way for people to discard books that no one wants to read. This PP's description fits all of the LFLs near my house, right down to the random religious books. One neighbor didn't like the books that people contributed to her LFL and actually emailed the listserv to recommend types of books that people should contribute (e.g., we need more kids' books), which I found incredibly tacky.

Wow..I guess I live in a lucky neighborhood with people sharing good books! Its of course not the library. That is like comparing Target to a yard sale. Both have their places.

Our neighborhood is not rich but there are often great quality hardcovers, kid and adult. Maybe because it's a laid back neighborhood or public service or NGO types who read a lot and don't have a ton of money to buy other more material things! Agree that I feel really lucky!

[Anonymous]

They are throwing old ratty play bills and old newspapers in some, even some junk mail, it's basically trash now you can't even get any books in it anymore. I'm wondering if these have run it's course and also just add to clutter at this point which is sad. They were good in concept but this is why we can't have nice things anymore.

[Anonymous]

What I want is a little free virtual Library.


List all my books on librarything.com

Post a QR code somewhere by the sidewalk.

Then someone walking by can check my list and ask me for a book, and I'll put it on my porch.

[Anonymous]

I saw a gardening free library. People have extra pots, seeds that they over purchased but will go bad if someone doesn't use them, etc.