Tag Archives: little free library

Books, Libraries

A story of true friendship – a Little Free Library grows in a beloved garden

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We have a new way to access books on the island – a charming Little Free Library has appeared in the community garden, which makes perfect sense to me, as I think community gardens have a lot in common with community libraries, including seed libraries, providing a place to read and ponder, and a space to feed our body and soul. This one came about through the love of friends of Dan and Alisa Barton. Alisa shares her story here:

Thanks for noticing our special, whimsical Little Free Library, which came into being back in June of 2019 but finally found a home in June of 2026, thanks to the board of the community garden.

The provenance of the library is a story of true friendship. It was designed and built as a surprise – to both Dan and me – for my birthday. It was the brainchild of our close friend, Nancy Langmeyer, who regularly visits us here on the island from Newburyport, MA. She secretly organized a design-build team of friends: (then) islanders Judy Paolini and Jim Thibault and Hope and Dave Madsen, as well as frequent island visitors Carolyn and Jim Wagner.

Judy had found a photo of a playful Little Free Library and this inspired the design. She says the colors of the box are “Alisa colors”. Afterwards, she realized that the door of the library box in the photo wasn’t really angled, it just appeared to be, given the perspective of the photo. We, however, love the fun and unique door that they installed in our box.

Placing the box proved tricky. Our property is on the East end of the island in one of the little off-road neighborhoods and it doesn’t have any road frontage. We also love both Brenda’s box, which was the first on the island, and the library, and didn’t want to take away from either of them. Last year we had the brainstorm that placing the box at the community garden was a central location that could be easily accessed by not only islanders but also visitors. We are very grateful that the board of the garden was kind enough to approve its placement there.

Nancy registered the box with the Little Free Library association and asked us how we wanted to dedicate the box. We chose to honor both our son Christopher and our island community. Christopher, who passed away in 2015, came to the island his whole life and loved it deeply. It is one of the places we feel his spirit strongly. In addition to the island, Chris had a passion for knowledge and learning and loved to read. We are happy to be able to commemorate both of these things he loved through the Little Free Library.

A little free library grows in our community garden

Books, Libraries

Little Free Library – Down front!

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Mary Caliandro had a dream – to return home to Long Island, after many years living elsewhere, most recently Chattanooga, Tennessee. So, a year ago Mary and her husband, Chris Mobley, ventured north and landed in the end condo down front, alongside the road leading down to Ponce’s Landing. Mary had another smaller dream, to put up a “little free library,” to offer books to the community. The location is perfect, as this crossroads is walked by many, on their way to the beach or Bakehouse, or beyond. Mary has been involved in books and reading and libraries for most of her life, and this is her way of giving back.

So, a few months ago, her smaller dream came to fruition, thanks to Mary’s cousin Robbie, who made and brought the little free library out to the island for Mary’s birthday, and Tom McVey, who installed it on the planter. The library has slowly become populated, most recently by children’s books, and more donations are welcome.

Mary’s favorite author is Stephen King – she has read all of his books. She also enjoys all types of fiction, non-fiction, mysteries, and biographies – most recently she read one about Jimmy Carter.

At the end of the summer Mary and Chris are moving from one end of the condos to the other, and will be moving the little free library with them – still a great location, and perhaps a bit more sheltered for the upcoming winter season, which is when we will need books more than ever. Mary says, about her little free library, “It’s a pleasure to have it” – and we are happy to have Mary and Chris here on the island, sharing their passion for books and reading, and brightening up their small corner of Long Island.

Books, Libraries

Brenda’s Book Box

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What a wonderful place we live! Long Island now has a new outlet for books, sort of like a “Little Free Library.” In this case it’s a pink painted refrigerator, called “Brenda’s Book Box.” Located at 604 Fern Ave., this little library was lovingly made by Brenda’s husband Dave.

Brenda’s mission is to encourage reading and exchanging of books:

➢ FEEL FREE TO TAKE A BOOK

➢ LEAVE A BOOK (GOOD CONDITION)

➢ WHEN YOU’VE FINISHED BOOK – PLEASE PASS ON OR RETURN IT BACK TO “BRENDA’S BOOK BOX” FOR THE NEXT READER

➢ I’D BE HAPPY TO PICK UP ANY BOOKS IN GOOD CONDITION AT YOUR HOME/COTTAGE – MY # IS 207-650-5354

So, next time you are out for a walk, be sure to bring a book to swap… at Brenda’s Book Box!

Books, Libraries

Little Free Library

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In writing my series on Casco Bay Island libraries, it occurred to me that some of the islands, such as the Diamonds, need a “Little Free Library” to make books more accessible in their communities. What is a Little Free Library, you may ask? According to good old Wikipedia, Little Free Libraries are a community movement in the United States and worldwide that offers free books housed in small containers to members of the local community. They are also referred to as community book exchanges, book trading posts, and pop-up libraries.Little Free Library in Seattle

The idea was popularized in Hudson, Wisconsin when Todd Bol mounted a wooden container designed to look like a school house on a post on his lawn as a tribute to his mother, who was a book lover and school teacher. Bol shared his idea with his partner Rick Brooks who found many efficient ways to spread the word, and the idea spread rapidly. Library owners can create their own library box, usually about the size of a doll house, or purchase one from the website. Libraries may be registered for a fee and assigned a number at the organization’s website. Libraries can be found through their GPS coordinates. Owners receive a sign that reads “Little Free Library”. They often have the phrase, “Take a Book. Leave a Book.”[3][4]

In Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, the village is requiring a church to take down their Little Free Library, worrying about inappropriate material being placed and saying that there was no point in a Little Free Library due to the public library. [5] Whitefish Bay is, in addition, denying permission to any family that asks to have a Little Free Library placed in their front yard.[5]

Libraries have been donated to rural areas that have no libraries of their own, or that have been ravaged by disasters. As of February 2013, all 50 states and 40 countries worldwide have been involved in the literary program. There are currently 5000 registered Little Free Libraries in the world, with an estimated 1000 unregistered.[6]

Each Library is uniquely built incorporating materials from the community it is located in.

According to the official website, the closest ones to Long Island are in Falmouth, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth.

Of course, on Long Island we are blessed to have our beautiful library, open every day of the week, but for many communities, that are either too small or seasonal to sustain a library, or those that are unable to afford a library due to economics, this is a fun and easy way to share literature with your neighbors.

For more information see:

http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/

[photo is of a Little Free Library in the Wedgewood neighborhood in Seattle, taken by Nancy N. in October 2013)