Little Free Library

Dear Pop,

My daughter and I recently read the Koolura Series and loved all three books. We were pleasantly surprised that an inexpensive Kindle could be so good. School will be starting soon, and I was wondering if you know where we can find inexpensive print books for Lindsay to read on the bus and during free reading time. Any ideas?

LA Reader

Dear LA Reader,

There is a very inexpensive resource in many communities throughout the Valley—Little Free Library (LFL).

Back in 2009, Todd Bol Hudson of Wisconsin built a weatherproof scale model of a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his teacher mom. He painted it red with white trim, placed it on a post and stuffed it with books. The idea was to share books he and his children had read with the surrounding community, and for readers to add their books to the free collection.

Hudson’s goal was to promote literacy and the love of reading through his little book exchange. Since those modest beginnings a Little Free Library (LFL) movement has caught on in communities throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Israel. Over 80,000 libraries have popped up worldwide.

This year Little Free Library is celebrating its tenth anniversary. The libraries are in all 50 states and 90+ countries. Its goal is to inspire a love of reading, build community, and spark creativity. For example, more than 120 million books have been shared through registered Little Free Libraries. Neighbors are connecting building stronger and friendlier communities. And volunteers have built Little Free Libraries resembling tree houses, submarines, castles, and even robots.

In the Sherman Oaks area there are three Little Free Libraries:

5755 Allott Ave

Glen Valley, CA 91401

13121 Addison St

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

12952 Huston St

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

In Chatsworth, a Little Free Library recently sprouted at:

22317 Itasca Street

Chatsworth, CA

The Little Free Library movement isn’t a historical anomaly. Nineteenth Century industrialist Andrew Carnegie supported 2,509 free libraries around the turn of the century. Between 1895 and 1914 librarian Lutie Strearns brought books to almost 1400 Wisconsin locations through her “traveling little libraries.” Take a book, leave a book collections in hospitals, coffee shops, and public spaces has been part of Americana for ages. 

If you want to get involved and place a curbside library on your property visit the LFL website for all the information you’ll need.

LFL books are free books for children and adults. There are wonderful books for children like novels by R.L. Stine, Todd Strasser, and Anne Louder McGee. Books for adults include authors like Stuart Woods, John Grisham, and Dean Koontz.

You can order a Little Free Library for your front year from $149 on up. And they even have books you can order to get your library started.

Drop by a local Little Free Library today. The LFL website has a map showing where their libraries are located.

Happy Reading,

Pop