As 2024 comes to a close, we are looking back on the many Little Free Library build events that happened this year! Thank you to the companies who engaged in team building through the assembly of book-sharing boxes from our organization.
Build events come in all shapes and sizes! The companies who hosted build events this year built anywhere from six to 175 Little Free Library book-sharing boxes, some of which were then distributed to underserved communities via our Impact Library Program. Regardless of how the libraries are placed, these events help further our mission to build community, inspire readers, and expand book access for all by getting more boxes and, therefore, more books into various communities.
Here’s a look at the Little Free Library build events that happened this year from Acrisure Stadium (home of the Pittsburgh Steelers) to the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA hosted the largest build event to date in April 2024, assembling 175 book-sharing boxes in Atlanta and Jacksonville during National Volunteer Week! Atlanta Falcons player Bijan Robinson joined the event in Atlanta alongside 250 MBUSA employees, who also made 200 sustainable bookmarks and collected used books to provide to local communities.
Intuit
Intuit’s Asia Pacific Network ERG organized an event to build six Little Free Library book-sharing boxes that were sent to recipients across the U.S. through the Impact Library Program. The event was a part of the company’s Service Month activities.
JetBlue
As part of its annual Soar with Reading intiative, JetBlue hosted a book sharing event at Centro Tau Community Center in Loíza, Puerto Rico. To celebrate its pride in being Puerto Rico’s largest airline, JetBlue built and placed seven book-sharing boxes across Puerto Rico. Publishing partners who provided books for the Little Free Libraries include Barefoot Books, HarperCollins, Lil’ Libros, Penguin Random House, Quarto, Scholastic, and Somos Uno.
Mortenson
For their annual Do Something Good campaign, teams throughout the Mortenson organization and at various office locations around the U.S. built and decorated 15 Little Free Library book-sharing boxes to be placed in their communities. Mortenson Senior Vice President, Mark Donahue; Little Free Library’s Director of Operations, Scot Wirth; and Partnerships Manager, Emily Benz, acted as judges to choose winners in Best Mortenson Design and Best Theme. Teams also collected book donations to fill the Little Free Library book-sharing boxes.
Cigna
The Cigna Group’s Community Programs team was inspired by Cameron Heyward, defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Heyward Foundation’s commitment to childhood literacy, as it aligns with Cigna’s Healthier Communities Commitment to youth mental health. Cigna’s event—which was held at Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers—resulted in 25 Little Free Library book-sharing boxes that were placed through our Impact Library Program. Volunteers also stuffed Reading Buddies, stuffed animals created with the intent to help children practice their reading skills.
Insmed
Insmed built 18 Little Free Library boxes that were then sent to recipients across the U.S. for the annual Global Day of Service in Raritan, NJ. The book-sharing boxes were granted through Little Free Library’s Impact Library Program.
Want to support Little Free Library’s programs by building book-sharing boxes with your team? A library build event is a great option! A build event is an in-person event that involves groups of 3-4 working together to assemble Little Free Library book-sharing boxes. These employee engagement events allow your team to share in our mission to expand book access and encourage a love of reading. Plus, we can help customize the event to your needs.
Learn more about planning a Little Free Library build event of your own for 2025!