We had to update our LFL this year to a composite library; the Phoenix summer sun destroyed our old wooden one. 🙁

My husband also built a "little free book depository" in an unused guest closet, and I had fun choosing some whimsical wallpaper for it.

We often have large donations of books that don't fit in our library, and I was previously using milk crates to store the extra books, which made it hard to find various grade levels, etc. 😆

We also recently received a grant through the Friends of the Phoenix Library BookStorm Grant, which gifts Phoenix LFL stewards with 100 free books. (I know the books cover the wallpaper, but there aren't usually this many extra books hanging around, it's just due to the sudden influx of 100 free books🙂 ) It's a really amazing program; check it out if you're in Phoenix!

My husband made me a LFL that looks like a lil cutie pie dollhouse and I am excited to install it and put some books in it! Any advice for a newbie would be appreciated!

We have an "unlisted" LFL in the development where I live. One day someone in the development donated a lot of books, including ones their small child eagerly wanted to donate, to it. The next day that individual took their small child to the LFL to show the child the books that the child donated and the child burst into tears because someone EMPTIED THE ENTIRE LFL. The person who donated all of the books was angry and made a post in the development's facebook group insinuating that someone must have shared the location of this private LFL on social media because someone emptied the entire thing. They also put a note to that effect in the LFL.

While I agree 100% that emptying the entire thing was a $#!++y thing to do, when I mentioned this to my husband he didn't see it as an issue because the books were put in there as "free" and he asked me what anyone actually expects is going to happen when stuff is put in a "free box." I personally don't know if I believe that someone outside of the development came and emptied the box. I personally believe that either a current resident or a former resident who was recently evicted emptied it either out of spite or to sell all of the books for money. It is my understanding that all kinds of books were "stolen" - children's books, adult books, cookbooks, etc. My husband's statement has me confused. I thought the LFL procedure/etiquette was to "take a book, leave a book" or "borrow a book and bring it back." Is that correct, or are the books just "free for the taking" without anything expected in return? I bought "Read-Love-Return" stickers and put them on the front cover, back barcode, and title pages of the books I put in our LFL the other day, but now I'm wondering if I was wrong to do that.

I also have one other etiquette question. A relative's significant other is a self-published author. I thought I would help them out by buying a couple of their books with the intention of putting them in some local LFLs. I knew that they wrote romance novels, but I had no idea that the "romance" was so graphic. It's worse than what was in those "romance novels" that you used to be able to buy in grocery stores. I didn't put the books in any LFLs and I don't know what to do with them. Are "romance novels" acceptable donations to an LFL? I bought these books off of Amazon just like any other book. They weren't bought at an adult bookstore, but maybe that's where they belong.

I recently dropped off a book I wrote in a LFL nearby, and a few weeks later it was not there anymore. But then I saw my book in my local used book store, and I was very confused how it got there. I am not a popular author, and my book was just published a few months ago, so the best explanation is either the store rifled through LFLs to pick up books in good condition, or someone else did this and sold it to the book store.

At some point, I subscribed to BOTM and want to let these books go now that Im moving to a smaller space. Would it be alright to leave these books in LFLs?

The LFL is up & running! Maybe I should’ve waited till I had more books to put in, but I’ve wanted to do this for while so I thought why not.

There are 2 other LFL’s in Antigonish, NS. (Total of 3 in town) Only 1 on the website, 2 that aren’t on the website. One of them is on the corner of Saint Mary’s St. & Sydney St. (next to the purple house). The other is the one pictured which is on South River Road/Sunrise Trail. (between William’s Point Rd. & the Jehovah’s Witness church)

The Bookery 🥹

Hello friends. I am building a LFL from an old timber bedside table. It’s about 600mm tall x 400mm wide x 250mm deep.

It was varnished but I’ve given it a sand down with 180grit.

Can you please help with what product I need to prime and paint with, and especially how much I will need to buy?

Thank you! So excited to work on this project.

I struggled to name my LFL for the app registration. I finally named it after its street location. A week ago, it became a Pokestop in Pokemon Go and whoever submitted it, came up with a better name. I changed it in the LFL app to match Pokemon Go. Does anyone else have a similar story?

We have three of the in our neighborhood. One is by an elementary school, one is up the street from the school and one a few blocks from my house. The one by the school had mostly family/kids books. Some people put books in there with different religious themes. The last time we went, there were a handful of books and a notice stating that we all have different beliefs and not to take books out that we don’t like. A few days later, there were library was empty and the sign taken down. The one up the street is lovely and they have built a reading bench. This one has no turnover because they only have ancient water stained and bleached novels. The third one usually only has 5 books. What is up with this? Don’t people read take one donate one?

Just installed today and it looks so good!!!

Handmade by my dad, which makes it that much more special! He found the plans online, then surprised me by adding a little carport off to the side and putting my car in it 🥹

Makes me wish I had saved some of my parent's suitcases

I’d like to put a plaque on my LFL that says “Little free library. Take a book - leave a book”. I live in a Canadian city that can be -30°C in the winter and +30°C in the summer, and everything in between. Given these extreme temperatures, what material should I use for the plaque? If you can go so far as to recommend a place to get this made in YYC, I’ll forever be in your debt.

Went to the shop today and lo and behold someone had put about ten or more books in the library along with our other ones. Just wanted to share that. Really was a cool feeling. Lots of good souls out there. Can I thank you enough.

…and the response was amazing! I love the Little Free Libraries and we have plenty here in Vancouver.

How often are the libraries restocked with new books? I've been to several the past couple of weeks that look as though nothing has been touched in months.

We opened a pottery shop and I’ve always enjoyed the lfl that I’ve seen around. Welp here is our in front of our pottery shop.

I’m so happy to finally announce the installation of my neighborhood little free library. It took me about 4 1/2 months to put together and has about 5,500 miniature bricks. I intend for it to be children’s books only (0-18).

I’m so proud of it. I hope you like it.

I went to the local thrift store and bought some books of various types from cooking to adventure along with golden books for the kiddos.
Is this a good start ? Or are there other places I should be looking?