It’s not a worldwide conspiracy or even a very effective business model, but in a half-dozen or so communities we know of, Little Free Library book-sharing boxes have been cleared of their contents and it can feel like a violation of trust to stewards and patrons alike. Like kids collecting returnable soda bottles a generation ago, a couple in one city has occasionally cleaned out several Little Free Libraries in the hope of scoring some easy money. Others have encountered people in dire straits who are looking for any way to get some funds, even though reselling used books is a pretty low return for the effort activity. Maybe your library has been among those facing these challenges, and you are left feeling like your library has been stolen from. We as stewards could respond by installing locks and automatic alarms, but that just doesn’t seem consistent with the character of this friendly enterprise.
Steward Terry Weiss of Corvallis, OR, had the entire contents of her library removed multiple times over a period of several months. In response, she put up a sign on the Little Free Library, stamped each book to indicate it was from a Little Free Library book-sharing box, and approached local bookstores to explain her situation. Here is what she had to say:
“I did close the library for a week while we were away (normally I have a neighbor keep it up for me) and put up a sign saying that I was not going to stop providing books for the kids in the neighborhood, and won’t let one bad apple spoil it for all. I opened the library on Saturday, and so far – it’s now Wednesday – no stolen books. The sign may well have done it. I’ve been so pleased about the response of local bookstores and neighbors and friends. We now have a good supply of books, and credit at a local used book store – which will be spent on the favorite chapter books that the 8 – 10 year olds like. We have been given a very nice supply of little kids books as well. So, we’re in business and fully intend to stay that way!”
“I have found a camera that can be concealed in a tree – first I have to make sure it’s not more than 30 feet away – the flash doesn’t show, even at night. It’s for hunters to photograph places where their prey might come. It takes both night and day photos, and is motion sensitive, so it will only take photos when it has been triggered… I can set it for a wide choice of time increments also.
“I wouldn’t consider for a moment putting the camera on the library – totally outside the spirit and it’s the spirit that counts. We love our library and so do so many others around here. I’m so glad our regular customers can once again find books to read and love. Reading real books is far from obsolete around here, I can tell you that. ”
While you can’t technically steal from a Little Free Library, one person repeatedly taking all the books is not in the spirit of community building and book access for all. These days many people have cameras on their doorbells, and footage from these existing cameras can be used to try and figure out who to have a conversation with about sharing. Sometimes a reminder that their actions negatively affect the entire neighborhood, as well as the notice that you know who they are and don’t appreciate what they’re doing, is enough to redirect them. If a camera feels intrusive, simply having conversations with your neighbors about if they’ve seen anything, and to keep an eye out, can achieve the same results!
Half Price Books Isn’t Buying It
Another option stewards can pursue is having a conversation with their local used booksellers. Some locations of Half Price Books stores have stepped up and instructed their employees not to purchase books taken from Little Free Libraries. In fact, it was the goodwill of the Wisconsin Half Price Books that inspired us to create the message “Always a Gift; Never for Sale.” Remember, there are printable book labels available in the Steward Web Portal on the website, and you may purchase a rubber stamp that can be used thousands of times to mark each book in your library as “Always a Gift; Never For Sale.”
Sign Suggestions for Your Library
If you want to put up a sign to discourage anyone taking all the books in a library, here is some wording that has been successful in the past:
- Generosity Zone – This Little Free Library lives on the trust and generosity of little children and adults. We love the idea of sharing books with each other; giving and returning books. Each time someone takes books in order to sell them, it hurts our neighborhood. And each time someone gives a good book, it helps. Thanks!
- Book Thieves? – Before you take all these books/Know that we will be taking looks/at you and wondering why/you would ever want to make us cry/So take these books if you must/But know you’ve stolen all our trust.
- Dear Mr. or Ms. Book Taker – Please don’t take our books away just so you can get money. It hurts our feelings. We love them for reading and learning, and you can, too! Most book sellers we know do not want to buy from people who remove the books from Little Free Libraries. It’s kind of like stealing from everybody.
- You Can’t Steal a Free Book – Some people think they can, so they stop by, load up with good books and try to re-sell them. If you know or see someone in the self-serving “book biz,” please talk to them. Tell them many, many people are watching this library because we love it.
Finally, if you’re having trouble with people abusing your Little Free Library, contact us! We are here to support you and will help however we can.
Author’s note: This article was originally published over a decade ago, and used to use language that implied taking free books was theft. As book lovers, we know precision in language is important, and have in the intervening years moved away from these terms. While it is frustrating when people clear out all the books at once, especially to sell vs. read, taking books that are freely given from a Little Free Library is not a criminal act, which stealing clearly is.