Book houses, the magic of sharing literature in the US

That books are as accessible as water is the premise that drives the promoters of small free bookstores or Little Free Librarya movement that emerged in the United States and has spread to other countries in the region and the world.

The Executive Director of Little Free LibraryGreig Metzger said in an interview with the Voice of America that although they do not have “an organized strategy” in Latin America, they are supporting “international ambassadors” from countries like Mexico and Brazil, where “there are already active libraries.”

Metzger acknowledged, however, that the largest number of these sharing libraries are in English-speaking countries, such as Canada, Australia and Great Britain.

“We are open to expanding our network where there is interest,” Metzger told the VOA.

The initiative is very easy to replicate: It consists of placing books in a small wooden bookcase that is located in the gardens of the houses and that contains a variety of texts for all ages. People often pick up one book and put down another. In this way, texts circulate easily. This free exchange of volumes has the objective of promoting reading in communities.

Each of these libraries has a unique and personal touch, since the same people are the ones who build, decorate and also decide which books to share, making each house a reflection of the diversity of tastes and cultures of the community to which it belongs. .

Origin of the Little Free Library

This initiative was created in 2009 by book lover Todd Bol, in Hudson, Wisconsin.

What started as a small local book exchange project quickly transformed into a global literacy movement.

Nowadays, Little Free Library is a Minnesota-based nonprofit whose goal is to inspire readers and expand access to books through these small facilities.

Currently, there are more than 190,000 registered libraries worldwide, spread across 120 countries on all continents.

More than 400 million books have been shared to date through this movement, although its creators explain that it is actually impossible to know exactly how many of these small libraries exist because many people decide to install them, but do not officially register them.

Bookstores converted into small art galleries

Although the main focus of Little Free Library are books, the initiative has also inspired other types of community exchanges.

Sid Edelmann, an American retiree, decided during the pandemic to open his own version: a Art Little Library either small art library, located in his neighborhood of Tenleytown, Washington.

Their project includes a visual display, an audio installation, and a whiteboard where neighbors can draw and express their creativity. Additionally, the art house is equipped with colored pencils and other art supplies so you can participate in a simple walk around the neighborhood.

“During the pandemic I saw a lot of people creating from home: painting, drawing and doing all kinds of things,” says Sid. “I thought it would be a good idea to create a small gallery where they could show their work to the neighbors.”

Sid reports that the participation has been surprising. “The youngest participant was one year old, and the oldest was 90. We even received a piece of art made by a rooster once. One family had a rooster that they painted with their paws. It was incredible! Plus, they included poems and texts about the animal.”

The unstoppable growth of small libraries

The scope of Little Free Library It is not limited to a few cities. Small libraries can be found in all corners of the world, according to the promoters of the idea.

For those interested in finding a library near their location, the organization created an official map showing all registered libraries.

However, the magic of this movement lies in its organic nature and the ability to adapt to the needs and interests of each community.

The success of the little library movement was highlighted on several occasions, as the organization received the World Literacy Award as well as recognition from the Library of Congress and the National Book Foundation of the United States, among other distinctions.

Little Free Library Executive Director Greig Metzger explained to the VOA that the biggest challenge they currently face in expanding the organization is the lack of volunteers.

“Our main challenge is to find volunteers to become guardians of the libraries. Although they do not require much time, a constant effort is necessary to keep them active and accessible. We depend a lot on the dedication of the community, which is both a strength and a challenge,” he said.

He said, however, that more and more organizations are using these libraries as tools to support their own missions. “For example, schools, library systems, and community organizations integrate them into their programs to encourage reading, especially in areas with limited access to books.”

Metzger said they remain excited to inspire others.

“Community sharing has been around for centuries, it’s not a new concept. What we’ve done is give it a name and add value by being part of the network. We see other initiatives like small food pantries, which are also common, although It is unfortunate that we live in a world where that is necessary. But we do not organize or coordinate those efforts,” he noted.

Regarding the future of the movement, Metzger insisted that he is confident that it will continue to expand. “We believe that access to books should be as common as access to water (…) We continue to expand to bring more books to more people,” he concluded.

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