Little Free Library Celebrates 200,000 Book-Sharing Boxes

We recently marked a major milestone, celebrating the recent installation of our 200,000th book-sharing box worldwide. The event, held at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul, brought together LFL staff, stewards, and supporters for an evening of festivity and reflection.

Two-time Newbery Medalist and beloved children’s author Kate DiCamillo was among the evening’s special guests, sharing heartfelt words about the importance of book access and the impact of Little Free Libraries in her Minneapolis neighborhood. (When DiCamillo has a new book come out, she is known to drop fresh copies in her local Little Free Libraries.) She said:

“I never walk past a Little Free Library without stopping to see what’s inside. I’ve found books that I’ve never heard of, books that I’ve been wanting to read, books that I needed without knowing that I needed them. I’ve found books that made me laugh and think, books that made me marvel and wonder, books that comforted me and offered me a way forward, and I found community. I don’t know how many times I’ve stood in front of these little boxes of wonder and talked with neighbors and strangers about a certain book and why it matters. I like to think of Little Free Libraries as lamps that illuminate our streets, our communities, our minds.

“Just yesterday, I finished a book about Galileo and his daughter. Galileo, who was brought before the Inquisition for putting forth the idea that the Earth was not the center of the universe but instead revolved around the sun. This book, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, was banned for 200 years. Two hundred years. We’re living through a time again where science is under attack and where the freedom to read is at risk. These Little Free Libraries and the wonders and histories and stories they contain matter more than ever. They form a lighted path in a dark world. They truly are beacons.”

The celebratory evening featured gift bags and books for attendees, hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and speakers, including DiCamillo, LFL Executive Director Greig Metzger, LFL Board Chair Nancy Wulkan, and Dr. Kenneth Turner, Principal of Benjamin E. Mays IB World School, the recipient of the milestone 200,000th Little Free Library book-sharing box. Attendees also had the rare opportunity to see and take photos with the original Little Free Library, built in 2009 by LFL Founder Todd H. Bol.

This event was made possible by generous sponsors, including Brave North Technology, Legal for Good, Pak Properties, Penguin Random House, Pier Partners, Redpath, ThriftBooks, and UNRL.

The 200,000th Little Free Library is the first of 200 book-sharing boxes LFL is gifting to Title I schools nationwide. This initiative is sponsored by Books Unbanned and Mortenson, with 40,000 books provided by Penguin Random House to fill the libraries and inspire young readers.

Join the Celebration! LFL’s milestone celebration continues throughout the year. Learn more at littlefreelibrary.org/200k.