Thanks to the extensive network of Little Free Libraries around the world, most people are familiar with the “Take a Book. Share a Book.” concept.  In fact, since 2009, more than 300 million books have been shared from over 150,000 registered book-sharing boxes.  The Little Free Library nonprofit organization has a mission “to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries. [Their] vision is a Little Free Library in every community and a book for every reader.”

Most Little Free Libraries are wooden boxes, about two feet square, mounted on a post in a pedestrian-friendly space.  They typically have a gently pitched roof and a side-opening front door with a clear window.  Sometimes they are designed to resemble the house of the Library’s steward.  A “steward”, in Little Free Library’s parlance, is a volunteer caretaker who constructs, installs, stocks and tends the book-sharing boxes.  Here’s an example of a Little Free Library with the same red roof and gray walls as the steward’s historic home in Madison, Georgia.

As indicated by the secret message that appears when the door is opened, this Little Free Library is dedicated to the steward’s mother and aunt.  I left a few gardening books and was delighted to see other patrons arrive and flip through them just as I was driving away.

The very first Little Free Library was also created in tribute to the steward’s mother.  Built by the late Todd Bol, it was a dollhouse-sized model of a little, red schoolhouse dedicated to his mother who was a school teacher and booklover.  When “the Bols hosted a sale in their front yard, … Todd mounted the schoolhouse full of hardcovers and paperbacks on a post.  It was the first Little Free Library, though it wasn’t called that yet.  As the day went on, neighbor after neighbor was drawn to the Library, stopping to admire it, ask about it, buzz around it, browse through it, and generally get excited about it.” reports author Margret Aldrich in her book The Little Free Library Book.  It was the beginning of the amazing grassroots, book-sharing program which became the Little Free Library non-profit, global organization.
Nowadays, there are Little Free Libraries on every continent (even Antarctica), in 115 countries around the globe and in every one of the USA’s 50 states.  Little Free Library patrons can use the Little Free Library website or mobile app to find a library nearby.  I used the app to find locations near my home including the one shown above and this one shown below.

I’m intrigued by Little Free Library’s global scope.  I remember being pleasantly surprised to discover a book-sharing box in Amsterdam-Noord when visiting the Netherlands last year (see the blog post Artworks as Big as Walls in Amsterdam to learn more about our visit to Amsterdam-Noord).  The unusual structure—a rowboat—is both eye-catching and practical!  This is a very active library with its own Facebook page showcasing the latest books.

It was fascinating to study the selection of books available in the library.  Now that I know about the Little Free Library mobile app, I hope to seek out more of these little treasures on my travels.

Interestingly, Little Free Library reports: “72% of volunteer stewards have met more neighbors because of their Little Free Library” and “92% of people say their neighborhood feels like a friendlier place because of a Little Free Library”.  Sharing books at the neighborhood level is obviously helping Little Free Library reach their goal “to be a catalyst for building community”.
But the idea of a free exchange is not limited to Little Free Libraries.  In Kentucky, for instance, I spotted two libraries at Berea Urban Farm, an educational market garden in the town of Berea.  As pictured below, the library on the left contains books and is labeled Berea Urban Farm’s Tiny Library while the one on the right is the Berea Urban Farm Tiny Seed Library.

Here’s a closer look inside the Tiny Seed Library which contains an assortment of carefully-labelled vegetable and flower seeds.

Little Free Pantries and Blessing Boxes are another example of the free exchange movement.  Supporters can leave food or personal hygiene items for others who may need them.  I spotted this Blessing Box in Murphy, North Carolina.

This next example—a Doggie Stick Library—was spotted at the Flowering Bridge in Lake Lure, North Carolina.  It’s colorful design and amusing function were a joyful surprise!

In the same way community-spirited Little Free Libraries have been embraced by booklovers around the world, artists and art lovers are spurring on the Free Little Art Gallery (FLAG) movement.  It’s difficult to identify the first FLAG but, according to a June 2021 Smithsonian Magazine article, “Washington-based artist Stacy Milrany wasn’t the first person to open a petite art gallery. … But the trend has gained traction in large part thanks to her Seattle FLAG, which debuted in December 2020.”  FLAGs have adopted the sharing culture of Little Free Libraries and patrons are encouraged to take and leave miniature pieces of art.  In the first six months of Milrany’s Seattle FLAG, an estimated 600 artworks flowing in and out of her miniature art gallery.
There doesn’t appear to be an organized network for FLAGs… yet.  But a little online research reveals FLAGs are popping up across North America and around the world.
In fact, there’s a FLAG in downtown Madison, Georgia—close to where I live.  Thanks to the Madison Public Arts Commission this FLAG was opened in mid-2021.  “Aside from appreciating the art on display, gallery patrons can also take a piece, leave a piece or both, … so, get those creative juices going and make some little art to share!”.  said Karen Robertson, director of Main Street for the City of Madison, as quoted in a Morgan County Citizen Sept 2021 news article.

There were a few art objects, mostly children’s drawings, on display when I visited.  I’m already planning what I might contribute on my next visit!

Whether it’s books, seeds, food items, art objects or dog toys, the “Take One.  Leave One.” movement is obviously catching on!

More Info

Learn more about Little Free Library on the organization’s website or the Little Free Library mobile app.
See the FanningSparks blog post, Artworks as Big as Walls in Amsterdam, to learn about my visit to Amsterdam-Noord.  Check out the Noorderkroon Facebook page for the latest news on the book boat in Amsterdam-Noord.
See the Sustainable Berea – Berea Urban Farm website to learn more about this educational market garden in the town of Berea, Kentucky.
To learn more about the Doggie Stick Library at the Lake Lure dog-friendly garden park, check out the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge website.
Information about Free Little Art Galleries can be found on Stacy Milrany’s website or Instagram account, on Instagram with #freelittleartgallery or on the Find a Free Little Art Gallery website.
The following books and articles are quoted in this blog post:
. The Little Free Library Book by Margret Aldrich which can be found here on Archive.org
. Why Free, Miniature Art Galleries Are Popping Up Across the U.S., a June 2021 article in Smithsonian Magazine
. Free Little Art Gallery Opens in Downtown Madison, a Sept 2021 in Morgan County Citizen

Today’s Takeaways

1. The mission of the Little Free Library nonprofit organization is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries.
2. Seek out free exchanges in your neighborhood.
3. Consider how you can support a Little Free Library, Free Little Art Gallery, or other “Take One. Leave One.” initiative.