Everyone has seen the “Leave-A-Penny, Take-A-Penny” trays at 7-Eleven. The Little Free Library applies the same laissez-faire concept to an exponentially more valuable currency – books!

A few years ago, I had read (and “pinned”) an article about mini-libraries in public parks in Colombia, and I was fascinated with this visionary idea of having books available for the taking in outdoor spaces. However, I did not experience a free outdoor library firsthand until this past Sunday, while walking along Pond Street in Jamaica Plain. At first, I thought I was viewing a very unusual bird house, but upon closer inspection, I saw that the wooden house-shaped structure was in fact full of books. 

I returned to the library again today, and I noticed that all of the books had been exchanged, so clearly this library is being used by the public. I have commissioned my father-in-law Rob Dines (an expert woodworker) to build a Little Free Library using the blueprints available online, so it is exciting that Roslindale will soon have its very first Little Free Library – sponsored by Literacy Change! 

You Are What You Read – The Little Free Libary at 40 Pond Street, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

The Collection on Sunday Afternoon

Informative Tag with Little Free Library URL

A Transient Collection: Two days later, all of the books had changed.

The Little Free Library serves as a community bulletin board space.