Little Free Library Etiquette

[Anonymous]

The ones in my neighborhood are in public spaces. Do people just put them in front of their homes?

I put good books in there and magazines!

[Anonymous]

Just because a book was bought at a goodwill doesn’t mean they aren’t good, condition or content! However, if you’d like to mix it up we know of one that contains puzzles and I think it’s great! Wish it was close to me, I’d utilize it!

[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 would generally agree with this except that this past weekend my kid stopped at our park’s LFL and there was a book about monster trucks, his current obsession. I am so over monster trucks and wouldn’t buy a book on this topic but grabbing it from the LFL was such a joy for him!

[Anonymous]

Don’t you have a (free) public library?

[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.

In my neighborhood a ton of the kid books are sentimental/controversial books (likely grandparent gifts) that the current generation of parents hate -- I Love You Forever, Velveteen Rabbit, etc. Lol

[Anonymous]

We’re in Petworth and there’s sometimes two LFL per block. We have one and people love it, and my kids love it too. I get big boxes of old kids books from friends that I use as back up filler if runs low. Just FYI about checking the neighbors’, they tend to be pretty dead in the winter and very busy in the summer.

[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.

In my neighborhood a ton of the kid books are sentimental/controversial books (likely grandparent gifts) that the current generation of parents hate -- I Love You Forever, Velveteen Rabbit, etc. Lol

Not everyone in the current generation hates those type of books, some people still find great value in learning from previous generations and passing that information on to their children. Just because you don’t like a book doesn’t mean the entire generation hates it, that’s absurd. People are raised differently and have different interests regardless of the time in which they were raised. I say ignore all these haters, OP, and put up the best little library your heart desires.

[Anonymous]

I have too many nooks and use the neighborhood's lfl to declutter.

[Anonymous]

There are 2 LFL in "competition" on my block. The newer Johnny come lately tries to entice people with spotlights at night and signage. It's a little obnoxious tbh. I still support the older, more established one. But having more LFL is a good thing.

[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.

In my neighborhood a ton of the kid books are sentimental/controversial books (likely grandparent gifts) that the current generation of parents hate -- I Love You Forever, Velveteen Rabbit, etc. Lol

Not everyone in the current generation hates those type of books, some people still find great value in learning from previous generations and passing that information on to their children. Just because you don’t like a book doesn’t mean the entire generation hates it, that’s absurd. People are raised differently and have different interests regardless of the time in which they were raised. I say ignore all these haters, OP, and put up the best little library your heart desires.

I hate to ask but what is controversial about the Velveteen Rabbit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are 2 LFL in "competition" on my block. The newer Johnny come lately tries to entice people with spotlights at night and signage. It's a little obnoxious tbh. I still support the older, more established one. But having more LFL is a good thing.

This "competition" is taking up a lot of space in your mind!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about a little food pantry instead?

I love this idea. But a caveat: a neighbor did this during early pandemic and people started dropping perishables off with no warning, so she would come home to 8 gallons of milk and have no clue how long they've been out. Or trays of food that she didn't know came from a clean kitchen. She was responsible for dumping everything and it became too much.

Was this Aspen Hill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just because a book was bought at a goodwill doesn’t mean they aren’t good, condition or content! However, if you’d like to mix it up we know of one that contains puzzles and I think it’s great! Wish it was close to me, I’d utilize it!

There are ones with PUZZLES?!?! Omg I need to find out where!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

In my neighborhood a ton of the kid books are sentimental/controversial books (likely grandparent gifts) that the current generation of parents hate -- I Love You Forever, Velveteen Rabbit, etc. Lol

Not everyone in the current generation hates those type of books, some people still find great value in learning from previous generations and passing that information on to their children. Just because you don’t like a book doesn’t mean the entire generation hates it, that’s absurd. People are raised differently and have different interests regardless of the time in which they were raised. I say ignore all these haters, OP, and put up the best little library your heart desires.

I hate to ask but what is controversial about the Velveteen Rabbit?

I love The Velveteen Rabbit. I think the PP was suggesting Velveteen Rabbit was "sentimental." I mean, whatever. I don't understand why that would be an "issue" as a contribution to a LFL. My son's stuffies were Real. (They still are as far as I am concerned.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are 2 LFL in "competition" on my block. The newer Johnny come lately tries to entice people with spotlights at night and signage. It's a little obnoxious tbh. I still support the older, more established one. But having more LFL is a good thing.

Wow. A spotlight? That is obnoxious. LFL has become virtue signaling now. The people that have them seem to be attention seeking. Maybe not when the concept was new, but now, yes.