Little Free Libraries popping up in the neighborhood

  Four library stewards share their stories

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Todd Bol believes that everyone does better if kids can read. Because of that, the former Hale resident co-founded the Little Free Library movement in 2010.
Since that first Little Free Library (LFL) was erected in Hudson, Wis. on May 8, 2010, the idea has taken off. And although he no longer lives in Minneapolis, Bol has found a great deal of support for Little Free Libraries.
The Little Free Library World Map lists 11 LFLs in the Longfellow and Nokomis neighborhoods.
Minneapolis Public Schools, Little Free Library and local residents are working to place 100 LFLs in the city. The idea of a Little Free Library is simple. A small structure is erected in an accessible yard and filled with books. The “Take a book, return a book” system means anyone can add to the collection or take from it. Readers include those over age 50, as well as preschool children.
A child with 20 books in his or her home will read up to two grade levels higher than children without, according to Bol.
In September 2011, there were 5 Little Free Libraries in Minnesota. Now there are 900. There is a LFL in all 50 states, and in 50 countries.
Learn more at http://www .littlefreelibrary.org.

5625 23rd Ave. S.
Wenonah Elementary School
Judy Lander, LFL Steward

Lander thought a LFL would be a great service-learning project for her first grade. “It is a wonderful way to share our love of reading with the neighborhood,” said Lander. “I often see families walking to the library to take books and to put books in.”
There is a second LFL in the school entrance that is available for families to take and give books.
The Wenonah school LFL has a large collection of children’s books, with some adult books, dictionaries, etc.
Lander’s class spent last year learning about libraries at school, public libraries and bookstores. “We learned about their similarities and differences,” said Lander. They took the city bus and school buses to visit different libraries and a bookstore, and interviewed librarians. They took a field trip to a hardware store to learn about the tools needed to make a LFL. They worked with Jaci Smolund’s art class at Roosevelt High School to make little clay libraries for each child to take home. A parent built a LFL that was taken to Haiti for their first ever LFL. They even had Little Free Library Co-Founder Todd Bol visit the classroom. “And one of my students convinced his grandparents to put a LFL library in their yard so they added another one to the neighborhood,” said Lander.
After many visits to the LFL website to look at all the libraries, the students worked as a group to design the library. Classroom volunteer, Bob Olsen, built the library and the students painted it.
For their grand opening, students invited the preschool across the street. Lander’s students made the preschoolers little bags with books in for them, sang songs and read with each other.

4243 44th Ave. S.
Michael & Claudia Wondra,
LFL Stewards

“We just love our LFL!! We are having so much fun with it,” remarked the Wondras.
They installed a LFL library because they knew that living across from a park it would get a lot of patrons.
“It gives us an opportunity to meet more neighbors in our community and talk about one of our favorite pastimes: reading!” they said.
They have seen an incredible variety of books visit their LFL. Sci-Fi, mysteries, classics, non-fiction, biographies, self-help, cookbooks, etc.
“Please stop by and visit our LFL,” encourages the Wondras. “If you are lucky, you might even meet one of our pug/librarians!”

3824 47th Ave. S.
Anne Benning, LFL Steward

“Last summer our block had 12 kids under age 10 for the first time since we moved here 25 years ago. Our family loves to read and liked the idea of sharing books with our smallest neighbors,” explained Benning.
The library began with children’s books, including a shorter box for toddlers and preschoolers, and has grown to include books for all ages. The books change over all the time and neighbors have been very enthusiastic, according to Benning. “A favorite benefit is watching kids come over and choose a new book or leave a book for someone else and talking with new neighbors about what they like to read,” she said.
They designed and built the LFL with help from a visiting family. “Lots of people stopped by and asked about the project as we worked, then came back with books to donate. Our library was made using high tech equipment at a fabrication lab including a laser cutter and shop bot,” said Benning. “The pieces fit together without fasteners.”
“This is a true grass roots community project that anyone can join / promote,” said Benning.

4436 47th Ave. S.
Jerry Casey

Casey read an article about Little Free Libraries in the Star Tribune and thought it sounded like a neat idea for his block.
“The Little Free library is all about building community and passing the joy of reading on to the children in the neighborhood,” said Casey.
There have been a wide variety of books in our library, including classics and best sellers. Children’s books are especially popular.
“The LFL is a place for neighbors to stop and chat,” said Casey.
In the morning, a few kids on the block stop by to see what’s new. In the afternoon, seniors from Becketwood stop by while out for a walk. In the evening adults check out library contents on their walk home from the bus stop.
Casey and his brother Gene built the library from scraps. To get design ideas, they looked at the pictures on the Little Free Library website.


This story was published in the September edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger. 
http://www.longfellownokomismessenger.com/little-free-libraries-popping-up-in-longfellow-and-nokomis/