11 Beautiful Mini-Libraries You'd Love To Own

IPSHITA MITRA / TNN / Updated: Sep 26, 2014, 12:30 IST

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In 2009, Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a model of a one room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former school teacher who was passionate about reading. He filled it with books and put it on a post in his front yard. Soon, it became a movement in the form of a non-profit, tax-exempt organization by the name 'Little Free Library'. Karina Barretto, one of the volunteers at the Little Free Library tells us about this wonderful initiative to promote a sense of community and reading among people across ages around the world.

11 Beautiful Mini-Libraries You'd Love To Own

In 2009, Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a model of a one room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former school teacher who was passionate about reading. He filled it with books and put it on a post in his front yard. Soon, it became a movement in the form of a non-profit, tax-exempt organization by the name 'Little Free Library'.
Karina Barretto, one of the volunteers at the Little Free Library tells us about this wonderful initiative to promote a sense of community and reading among people across ages around the world.
The estimated number of Little Libraries worldwide was 15,000 in January 2014. Here's a compilation of 11 creatively-designed 'Take a Book, Return a Book' libraries you'd love to own:
1. Arkansas, Fayetteville

How about a snow-covered library? Co-founders Rick Brooks and Todd Bol decided to make this 'Do-It-Yourself' project widely popular. "Rick has a background in social marketing and has been involved with community development and other local and international non-profits for decades. They (Rick and Bol) saw the opportunity to meet their goals by promoting this new movement of Little Free Libraries," informs Karina.

2. Wisconsin, Green Bay
This little library was gifted to the Three Corners Neighborhood Association from the Green Bay Parks Department.

3. California, Chino Hills
Even a bike rack with a box on the back of a bicycle can be turned into a library. Built with recycled materials, designed and decorated by neighbourhood groups and watched over by volunteer stewards, each little library is a treasure.

4. California, Glendale
The Montrose Community Park Little Free Library is sponsored by the Glendale Library Arts & Culture department. The Friends of the Glendale Library supply books to restock the Little Free Library on a weekly basis.

5. California, Vista
Fancy the idea of a library at the bus stop corner? This is one such library that is constructed from a self-made plan using recycled plywood, furring boards, and molding. The front window is acrylic.

6. Minnesota, Henderson (Collaborators: John, Tosha & Sophia)
"We have theme-based libraries that we build and sell on our website. However, most of the distinguished themed Little Libraries are created by everyday people, neighbours, parents and teachers and are inspired by the area surrounding their libraries. We have boat-themes libraries next to marinas and libraries that look like little versions of the houses they are in front of," says Karina.

7. Georgia, Marietta (Collaborators: The Lee, Brogan families)
This library was a Father's Day gift to James Powell from his children. The art work by Ginny Brogan is a silhouette of the families favourite books.

8. Washington, Spokane
Colour me purple! Ask Karina if Little Free Library plans to come to India and she says, "There are currently three in India that are registered on our World Map. One in Chandigarh, one in Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu".

9. Connecticut, Old Saybrook
According to the Little Free Library's Facebook page, 'this nonprofit program is also generating support for libraries in villages in Asia, Latin America and Africa as well as the U.S.'

10. Texas, Kerrville (Collaborators: tamoutyt.com friends)
This library opened last summer to encourage school children to read more. The school plans to award prizes to the children who read the most books.

11. For art's sake
The genius Mr. Bol (looks tired here) behind one of his latest creations!

Meet the team
Todd Bol - Co-Founder and Chair
Rick Brooks - Co-Founder and Chair
Melissa Eystad - Director of Organizational Development
Brian MacKenzie - Chair of Little Free Library
Kristin Davis - Secretary of the Board
For more details, visit the Little Free Library website here.

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