Using & Promoting Our Local Little Free Library

There is potentially a local Little Free Library somewhere around your neck of the woods. In my case, I have one perched at the edge of our property — thanks to my daughter and her love for books.

Since she launched this project, I’ve been paying more attention to these little beauties.

Local Little Free Libraries offer Community-Building Potential

I believe there is great potential for these book stations to bless their communities. And I can see local personal relationships developing from them.

I recently took an inventory of our local Little Free Library‘s contents. And then I generated a double-sided document to distribute to neighbors and visitors. In doing so, I saw there were quite a few gems in there.

I shared this list with several different people and got to thinking. I ought to publish & distribute a list like this on a monthly basis.

Several of these books were curated from my daughter’s collection. Others were donated by friends & neighbors living in the area.

Personally, I’d like to encourage people to take a book or two to read, of course. But I also want them to take the opportunity to share something of themselves with their local community.

I’d like to see my neighbors leave a book of their particular choosing that either reflects their personal taste or expresses their personal understanding of something that matters to them.

From Castoffs to Meaningful Contributions

It’s not uncommon to see book donations that are simply castoffs — books that people don’t really like or want for themselves. I’m guilty of depositing such things myself. I did so with the idea that maybe someone else will appreciate them even though I didn’t.

However, I’m now having a change of heart.

Take a Book. Leave a Book…that Matters

I’d like to see books in our local Little Free Library that were donor-appreciated & perhaps even donor–recommended.

And I’d even be interested in knowing who those donors were and why they made their donation. This would enable me to learn a little bit more about those who are living in my local area.

Therefore, I’m going to be the change I want to see.

My Personal Challenge to Myself

I’ve challenged myself to donate a personally valued book to our local Little Free Library each month going forward. (I’ve already done so this month.)

And I’m going to include a card stating why I donated that particular book and including my name, street & town with it.

I’ll keep you posted as to how I fare with this.