Who actually uses Little Free Libraries? It’s a good question. When you put up a Library, are you actually affecting anybody?
Paula Carey’s Little Library
These little boxes of joy are sprouting up like flowers all around the world. It is exactly the grassroots, free sharing nature of Little Libraries that make it hard to provide black and white statistics about how many people they reach and who those people are.
Just for fun, Little Free Library steward Paula Carey put a small camera near her Library in Victoria, British Columbia for several months. Just to see who (if anyone) was stopping by.
The results are amazing.
Check out the video below to see for yourself.
The footage was taken over a span of a few months after the Library opened in February 2014.
Paula reported that her Library easily rotates 100 books per week during the busy summer season and added, “I think there is a lot to learn from that film…how people slow down, feel safe and how they make it part of their walk, and for many a surprise.”
So judge for yourself…is her Little Library making a difference?
I love this. I wish more of my neighbors would bring books back to our Little Free Library! Mostly, I think people just take books instead of borrowing them. =(
Same here Flora, I cant keep it full and nothing comes in….I try to keep a variety for ladies, men and children but it sure is tough
Love it! 🙂 I visit the ones in my area every couple months
What a wonderful idea & video. &what a terrific response! Thank you
That was amazing footage. Can’t wait to have my library installed. Ready to see lots of readers show up.
The pipes & drums were a surprising extra treat! Loved it.
I’ve checked out, borrowed and exchanged quite a few books from the few little libraries here in Kitchener. I love it. My only suggestion here for improvement would be to exchange children’s books. I know they are treasures but one or two could be the only book another child can have to read.
I love the whole idea.
Yet to make one.
Jan
I have had one up for about a year now. I have many people who bring me books or leave books they have finished reading. I have a population of young mothers so I have preschool books as well as elementary to teen books. We live near two colleges and a University and so get some interesting books. It is fun to see what goes out and when. Sometimes I pull things that are not going and put them out later and they find a home. Some come back to me, many don’t but there are many Free Little Libraries in my area. If someone loves a book I like that they keep it.
We have one at the Parksville B.C. Beach!
Great idea to show this little library video~which may I add is a total success and shows a community of readers!
what a great video. It is an amazing example of community…and critters! Funky too.
I’ve returned home from work on several occasions to see a line at my library! One young girl was so excited she rang the doorbell to verify that she could take a book. I was also interviewed by the high school paper for a feature article. Awesome community builder!
The old saying “volunteer and you get more back” Since I set up, my neighbors have left so many books for me to enjoy reading. My supply has been nicely changed. Others tell me how much they enjoy my LFL. Also for new friends to find my house I can say :It’s just behind the LFL.”
Very fun — sometimes my LFL is filled to the gills and other times it languishes empty for some time. the last time that happened, I bought a bunch of books and next thing I knew books were coming and going. It’s definitely slower in the winter (I’m in MN) — not as many people are coming by on their way to the park.
Some quick tips for encouraging Little Library users to leave as well as take books:
1. Ask for help on the Library itself–put up a short (e.g. post it note or handwritten note) in the window.
2. Recruit some help from RSVP, schools, Friends of Libraries, service clubs or scout groups.
3. Download the sign “How Does This Library Work?” from the “How To” information in the Stewards and Friends section of https://www.littlefreelibrary.org Print out the sign on bright colored paper (bright card stock is best but white will do, especially if you put a note on it or color it). Change the sign often. Put it in the window of your Library.
Are patrons of this LFL aware that they’re being videotaped? After a couple days of hiding myself with a camera behind my window curtains, I decided not to take pictures of my library’s users/benefactors. It’s thrilling to see people come by, and I watch them every chance I get, but for myself, I decided that photography without permission is rude.
I wish LFL would hurry up and create a listserv or forum so that library stewards could discuss this and many other issues.