You’ve already set up your steward account—now you’re ready to set up your Little Free Library book exchange! Follow these easy steps to pick a good location, weatherproof your library, install it, and add some fun accessories! You’ll be sharing books in no time.
Choose a Location
Put your library where it’s easy to see and access! Aim for a spot that is well lit and accessible to those with limited mobility. Consider installing it low enough for kids to open the door. Click below to get more tips.
Check out these FAQs about library placement
- Read our detailed help doc on where to place your Little Free Library.
- Are there any liability issues with starting a Little Free Library?
- How do I get my homeowner’s association to allow a Little Free Library?
- Can I install a Little Free Library on public property?
- How to make your Little Free Library accessible.
Weatherproof Your Library
Make sure you paint or stain your Little Free Library book exchange before you place it outdoors! Raw wood exposed to rain or snow will deteriorate over time. Don’t forget to protect your library post, too.
Check out these FAQs on weatherproofing your library
- Follow our tutorial on how to paint your library.
- If your area gets a lot of snow, learn how to winterize your library.
- Review our recommended maintenance for a wooden library.
- Put caulk on the seams of the library if moisture is becoming an issue.
- A dryer sheet stuck inside the library can act as a deterrent to many pests (and keep your books smelling laundry fresh)!
- A Vaseline ring around the library post can work to keep ants out—they can’t climb through the Vaseline.
- Use foam or plastic weatherstripping around the door to protect against moisture.
Install Your Library
Here are our instructions to install a library on a wooden post. Consider purchasing a library post from our online store to make installation extra easy!
Get more tips on how and where to install your library
- Check out our video that shows how to install a Little Free Library on a wooden post.
- Our mobile library installation legs are perfect for indoor libraries!
- Consider installing your library in a large flower pot or barrel. This way it’s not permanently set in the ground.
Get Free Resource Downloads
Log in to your steward account to get tons of cute downloadable resources! Printable book labels, bookmarks, stickers, signs, and more are all there! Log in to your account to download them.
Follow Us on Instagram for Little Free Library Ideas & Designs
That feeling when you find a great book in a Little Free Library 😎
Find a Little Free Library near you this weekend by downloading our free mobile app at the link in our bio!
📸: @hermosabeachfol
#littlefreelibrary #littlelibrary #freelittlelibrary #bookstagram
I scream, you scream, we all scream for good books! 📚
See other fun Little Free Library designs by signing up for our email newsletter at the link in our bio!
📸: @librarymusthaves
🏠: #202153 in Sherburne, NY
#littlefreelibrary #littlelibrary #freelittlelibrary #bookstagram
Growing minds 🪴🌱🌿
Let a book plant the seed! Find one at a Little Free Library near you by downloading our free mobile app at the link in our bio.
📸: @lfl_belmont
🏠: #210617 in Portland, OR
#littlefreelibrary #littlelibrary #freelittlelibrary #bookstagram
Just peachy 🍑
Shop the Two Story Shed Little Free Library (pictured here) and more at the link in our bio.
📸: @the_peachy_shelf_
#littlefreelibrary #littlelibrary #freelittlelibrary #bookstagram
Land of the (Little) Free (Library) ❤️🤍💙
Happy Independence Day to the LFL lovers in the U.S.!
Find a Little Free Library near you this weekend by downloading our free mobile app at the link in our bio.
📸: @the.tarapist
#littlefreelibrary #littlelibrary #freelittlelibrary #bookstagram #independenceday #fourthofjuly #redwhiteandblue
Meet Todd H. Bol Award Winner Communities Advancing Prosperity for Immigrants (CAPI)!
“Access to books is not always guaranteed and buying books or visiting well-stocked libraries can be difficult due to time, transportation or financial constraints. Our Read in Color Little Free Library helps bridge that gap, offering free, immediate access to stories that reflect a wide range of cultures, languages and experiences for children and adults. When someone finds a book that looks like them, sounds like their family, or opens a window into a new world, it can be quietly transformative. It offers connection, a sense of belonging, and says that their stories matter. And in a diverse community like ours (CAPI provides services and resources to immigrant and refugee communities), that sense of shared humanity is one of the most meaningful impacts of all.”
Learn more about the winners of the 2026 Todd H. Bol Awards for Outstanding Achievement at the link in our bio.
#littlefreelibrary #littlelibrary #freelittlelibrary #bookstagram #lfl #toddhbol #toddbol #toddhbolawards
July book giveaways are open! 📚
Enter at the link in our bio.
#littlefreelibrary #littlelibrary #freelittlelibrary #bookstagram #giveaway #bookgiveaway
Kindness, curiosity, and community connection 🫶
Find a Little Free Library near you by downloading our free mobile app! You can even filter by the Sharing Box tag to find libraries that share food.
📸: @theburrow.bookshelf
🏠: #222775
#littlefreelibrary #littlelibrary #freelittlelibrary #bookstagram
