Little but mighty



Q: What building has the most stories?

A: A library!


There are libraries that are magnificent and inspire wonder by their physical size alone. The New York City library and its branches offer residents more than 23,232,000 books, audio/visual items and e-books. Or, a branch library in Clinton Corners (Dutchess County, New York), has a mere 150 books and is housed in a refurbished English phone booth. Some of us desire our own home libraries and buy, collect and hoard books until movers grumble over heavy boxes and narrow staircases.

According to the American Library Association, there are at least 119,729 libraries of "all kinds" in the United States today.

If you're lucky, a twist on the library concept may already be found in your community. There's a movement afoot to get books, free books, in neighborhoods of all socio-economic levels.

Little Free Library in Kansas City

This movement started as a tribute to a mom who loved to read. Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin built a model of a one room schoolhouse, called it the Little Free Library and a social/literary trend was born. The first official Little Free Library was placed next to a coffee shop in Madison, Wisconsin. According to the LFL website, there are now more than 25,000 of the tiny structures on front lawns, city sidewalks and even near a beach or two. Creativity is encouraged for the design - some of these tiny libraries look like log cabins, jewelry boxes or phone booths. Generally, they are 20"w/15"d/18"h.

Kansas City neighborhood 

And they aren't located just in the United States. You will find a Little Free Library in Ireland, Belarus, Germany, New Zealand and Australia.

And soon, perhaps, in a neighborhood near you. Check out the LFL website: http://littlefreelibrary.org/

                      
               

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Take some time this week, April 12-19 to visit your local
library and help celebrate National Library Week. A big
thank you to all librarians who serve their communities.

                          



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