With budget cuts leading to reduced hours at libraries and some closing altogether, a movement is growing across the world to provide free access to books in local communities.
“Little Free Libraries” look like giant birdhouses, but have Plexiglas doors and hold books for the taking. They are popping up in front of people’s homes and businesses and are located in 24 states and eight countries.
In metro Atlanta, there are five to date located in Buford, Smyrna, East Lake, and two in Atlanta on N. Druid Hills Road and E. Pharr Road.
“There are no strings attached, there is no library card, no fees, (and) you don’t have to bring it back,” says Laura Christenberry who has one in front of her nearly 100-year-old home in downtown Buford.
She has seen cars come and go over the month or so that she has had her Little Free Library. Some books are replaced with others.
“It’s to encourage reading and also community,” says Christenberry.
The idea began two years ago in Madison, Wisconsin when Todd Bol wanted to honor his mother who had died a decade earlier. He built a little box to hold books in his front yard and the idea spread over the internet through the website littlefreelibrary.org. The goal is to create 2,510, more than the number Andrew Carnegie endowed between 1883 and 1919.
Susan Harlan owns Vickery Hardware in Smyrna site of another Little Free Library that is a tiny replica of the store.
“I wanted to do one at my home, but I really don’t have people walk by. So then I thought well maybe we can do one here,” she tells News/Talk WSB.
Her customers love the idea.
“I think it’s good, because the used books… what can you do with them after you’ve read them,” says Gail Mathews.
The website includes kits on how to make your own Little Free Library or you can purchase one. An optional registration fee gets you an official “Little Free Library” plaque.