Little Free Library Etiquette

[Anonymous]

Local LFL steward here. Yes, please take the books without feeling obligated to donate! Mine doesn't get much traffic because our street just isn't that busy. I still want to keep the stock rotated for those that do visit, but I don't have endless storage space so I do need books to cycle out (I've taken to bringing ones that have sat a while to other higher turnover LFLs).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just put the book back in when you’re done with it.

+1

You walked there to get it, walk there again to return it. Simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Donate books people might actually want to read. Otherwise the LFL is full of Fodors 1985 Guide to the USSR.

lol 😂

[Anonymous]

LFL are full of garbage!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LFL are full of garbage!

Well, add some good stuff then. I put decent stuff in the ones near me.

[Anonymous]

Went to a LFL in Arlington yesterday and surprise! there was a pair of crumbled up used mens underwear in them.

This area and the LFL sucks. When I travel they're all pretty amazing. Around the DMV they're usually trash bins. Like everything this area destroys everything.

[Anonymous]

We have a bunch in our neighborhood, so when I have a pile of books I want to donate, I throw them in a bag and walk around, putting 1-2 books in each LFL. The books I donate are novels that I know I will never read again, but think someone might like.

I rarely take books. I agree that it all balances out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Donate books people might actually want to read. Otherwise the LFL is full of Fodors 1985 Guide to the USSR.

lol This is exactly what they're like!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish ours was a bit more "curated". People put in extra folders/dividers, paper doilies, books in Cyrillic, massive old textbooks, old travel brochures, etc.

+100 and old ripped copies of house beautiful from 1984! SOMEONE might want those right?!!! (NO). I wonder what people are thinking when they add these to a LFL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a bunch in our neighborhood, so when I have a pile of books I want to donate, I throw them in a bag and walk around, putting 1-2 books in each LFL. The books I donate are novels that I know I will never read again, but think someone might like.

I rarely take books. I agree that it all balances out.

This is what we do. DH and I almost never take books out but my kid does, and they usually make it back in. I don’t think anyone cares if they don’t though.