A cozy house-shaped wooden box stands by the sidewalk, welcoming curious passersby to explore its contents. Behind its transparent frame sits a modest collection of books, nice and snug in their small shelter. With no librarian to monitor the coming and going of patrons, anyone is free to take and leave whatever books they please. These are Little Free Libraries, and they allow their community to share books with the neighborhood.
A few households here and there choose to set up little libraries outside their homes, making them a familiar sight to some throughout local communities.
“I think they’re great for people who maybe can’t afford to go get a book from a bookstore, so it gives them more options for what they want to read,” Book Club member Brook Matta (12) said.
Matta observed that most of the books inside little libraries are oriented towards children, as they have an abundance of picture books.
“They’re a really good way to get kids into reading because it’s fun for them to go pick out books from [the] little library,” Book Club president Bella Croce (12) said.
Dave Schmitz, the owner of a little library in the Del Mar Heights community, expressed that he originally intended his library to be for children.
“We initially filled it with mostly books for children, but it now spans the spectrum — fiction, philosophy, biographies, children’s books, etc.” Schmitz said.
Schmitz set up his library around 12 years ago, and ordered it from Little Free Library.
“It seemed like a small way to reinforce the idea of community, and a way to share and provide to each other,” Schmitz said.
Schmitz’s little library is subject to frequent visits, with people stopping by “just about daily,” whether it’s “someone walking their dog and taking a peek or someone doing a drop-off or pick-up.”
“I think those that show up are naturally inclined to reading so it provides an option for them to pursue that interest within the community,” Schmitz said.
Croce believes that the little libraries are “not known about a lot” because “a lot of people don’t know that they’re there, and there should be more of them and more active use.”
Schmitz recommended others to install their own little library.
“It provides a means for those that want to interact with, share, and be a part of [the little library], and each person can choose the level of interaction they are comfortable with,” Schmitz said.
