They provide low-tech entertainment.

They appeal primarily to children.

They benefit local communities.

They offer an unusual selection of books.

communities that welcome diversity

the chance to share experiences with others

making the world a better place

the opportunity to learn something new

When he saw the people of his community gathering around it like a neighborhood water cooler, exchanging conversation as well as books, he knew he wanted to take his simple idea farther.

But as DooSun You scrolled through the results, an appealingly anti-tech concept popped up.

“Little Free Libraries create neighborhood heroes,” says Bol.

When you open the door, serendipity (and your neighbors’ taste) dictates what you’ll find.

havens for people who do not like modern technology

repositories of knowledge that offer opportunities for discovery

popular local meeting places where people work together

places that are inexpensive to establish and operate

In some places, Little Free Libraries are filling a role usually served by brick-and-mortar libraries; the organization’s Books Around the Block program, for example, aims to bring LFLs to places where kids and adults don’t have easy access to books.

“I hoped to share that feeling with my neighbors—that’s the reason I wanted a Little Free Library.”

“We have a natural sense of wanting to be connected, but there are so many things that push us apart,” Bol says. “I think Little Free Libraries open the door to conversations we want to have with each other.”

“Reading books is one of the most valuable things in my life. I think a book is equal to a treasure,” he says.

presents the perspectives of librarians and reading specialists

depicts reading as an activity that is difficult but rewarding

suggests that reading is an activity that unites entire communities

reveals the differences in reading preferences around the world