Since our Libraries have been installed in September, I’ve topped up the libraries many times. The Rocky Ridge LFL has been nearly empty on several occasions. I’m so glad they’ve been used as a tool to promote literacy in our community and I can imagine the smiles when people have found a great book. I often wonder what happens to our books as I don’t see many of them return to the shelves again. I hope that people are passing them on to their friends or finding a special place for them in their home.
But, the motto of the Little Free Library movement is “Take a book, Leave a book.” Lots of people are taking books but not so many people are leaving books. The longterm sustainability of the libraries depends on books going out and also books coming in. We are asking residents to perhaps return the books they’ve found in the LFLs so that more people can enjoy them, and we’d also like more residents to donate books from their own collections that they don’t want to keep anymore but still would like them to be put to good use. I also accept larger donations of books at my house so I can use them as needed to top up the libraries. Many people have done this already and I’m very grateful for it. But the pace of outgoing books is such that my “stash” is almost depleted. Please message me if you are interested in dropping some off (especially if you are the middle of decluttering or moving house!).
If you are concerned about donating a special book and it “disappearing” from our libraries, there are several options. You can write “donated to the Little Free Library” (or words to that effect) inside the front cover of your book or there are printable book labels you can download at http://littlefreelibrary.
But our libraries aren’t just for books! I’ve also been pleasantly surprised by finding audio books, family-friendly DVDs, Halloween goodie-bags with stickers and pencils and other little treasures in our libraries. Other Stewards have found foil-wrapped teabags (a cup of tea and an afternoon of reading, how thoughtful!), handcrafted bookmarks, small craft items such as bags of embroidery floss or scrapbook embellishments, postcards, flower seed packets, and lots of other things for people to discover.
Thank you for making our LFLs incredibly successful and for keeping them tidy and vandalism free! May they continue to bring joy to people of all ages.
Carla
Community Little Free Library Steward
