Little Free Libraries: Spread the Love

Good day, everyone! I hope you’ve had a great weekend. Mine has been filled with research related to Banned Books Week, and I thought it would be appropriate to start the week with a project that anyone can do to spread the love of reading. I’m talking about building your own little free libraries.


Image retrieved from treehugger

One of the issues brought up by Banned Books Week is restricted access to reading materials. Many factors can limit access to books: lack of money, lack of public libraries, and, yes, censorship which leads to the removal of books from library shelves. We have to do everything we can to help books, especially challenged/banned books, be more readily available to the public. That’s where projects like the Little Free Library come in.

You may have already heard of the trend. It’s a book lover’s dream, a 24/7 mini-library and DIY project all in one. The concept is all about taking a book, leaving a book, and building a community. There’s more to it, though.

The project traces back to an international, nonprofit organization called Little Free Library. They provide instructions and sell materials for creating little free libraries, register the libraries so that the “stewards” (as they call the keepers of the little free libraries) can access a support network, and even provide a world map of registered little libraries.

You don’t need to use the kits sold by Little Free Library. You can build one from any material you can get your hands on, so long as you make sure they’re secure and can withstand the elements. Also, make sure that you have permission to put your library where you want to put it, don’t block any pathways, and make sure to maintain it. You don’t even need to make them out of wood. People have made little free libraries out of old mailboxes, mini-fridges, and microwaves.


Image retrieved from Little Free Library’s blog

To register with the Little Free Library, you’ll have to pay $45, which is included in the price if you buy one of their kits. (A steward’s packet with advice and tips is also included.) There are many benefits to registering, such as becoming a part of the international steward network, getting an official charter sign, and being able to put your library on the world map so that readers in your area can find it.

However, you don’t have to register. After all, who can tell you not to put a little free library on your own property? You just won’t have a charter number or a sign and you’ll have to get the word out some other way. (If you don’t register, be careful about calling it a “little free library” for copyright reasons.)

There are a lot more details, ideas, and advice provided on the Little Free Library website, so I suggest going there before committing to any strategy for constructing libraries. You can also donate to the organization and find little free libraries near you. There are thousands of them; some have even been put up in small cities near me (not my actual town, not yet). Our county is rural and not very populated, so they really are everywhere in the United States.

Do you have a little free library? Seen any in your area? Tell us about them and post some pictures in the comments below! I’d love to get some ideas for my own little free library. Also feel free to share other ideas you have for increasing access to books, as well as any other banned books topics you wish to discuss.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Commencing ALA Banned Books Week 2017

Welcome, everyone, to the beginning of the ALA Banned Books Week 2017! All week bookworms and libraries across the United States will be celebrating and raising awareness for banned books. The Writer’s Scrap Bin is no exception.

From now through September 30th, I will provide you with posts designed to promote banned books and raise awareness of this issue which, sadly enough, still exists in modern-day America. These posts will include, but not be limited to, discussions of my favorite banned books, analyses of literary censorship overall, and at least one test video post. (Bonus: if the video goes well, I will be posting more for another special event during the last week of October.)

I already started the festivities by replacing the blog’s social media covers/profile pictures with artwork courtesy of the ALA. Here’s a link to free downloads from the ALA if you would like to show your support on your social media accounts and/or blogs. You can even download free banned books-themed coloring sheets and fortune teller!


Get this and more artwork from the ALA

You can join the movement in many ways, including writing letters to your local newspaper, library, and schools, join the Freedom to Read Foundation, and donate to the ALA. The ALA discusses more options at this link, and I’ll keep you updated on ways you support banned books not just during Banned Books Week but all year long.

I’m going to leave you with a fun banned books fact: the ALA top 100 hundred challenged/banned books of 1990-1999 was topped by the children’s series Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz. It wasn’t just one of the books; the entire series was grouped into the #1 slot (the same thing happened some years with the Harry Potter series).

Be sure to check back frequently for more interesting challenged/banned books facts, and feel free to leave your thoughts on the issue in the comments below.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011