im not convinced people actually use these things. it just makes people feel like they are doing something.
now what i do see get used alot is food pantries. my gf works for a food retailer and we would get so much free shit we would take it something that looks like a Little Library but for food. Granted some of it wasnt healthy food, but the samples coming to our house during COVID was insane. And theres nothing wrong with a snack. That thing would get cleared out regularly.
Most of them are in relatively insular neighborhoods, too, so it's like, maybe some of your neighbors will walk by it and see the books you no longer want. Even with kids lit, tastes are really subjective so you kinda need a centralized place with a wide variety (hmmm, what would we call that?).
There's a house close to a park near me that has a free plants and extra produce shelf thingy that seems to be doing a decent job of sharing stuff with the community nearby. Granted, they're 1: giving away stuff people need and 2: giving it in a location that people from other neighborhoods nearby will find themselves.
Most public libraries aren't interested in receiving, cataloging, and shelving most books that people have to give away. Little libraries fill a niche in the print ecosystem.
I didn't intend it that way - just pointing out that the stuff in little libraries is usually just that particular person's cast-offs. Yeah, that would be a nightmare to work with.
Most of them are in relatively insular neighborhoods
very true. i have two very close to me and they are on side streets and dead ends. i dunno if they are even listed on the LL website. and agreed on the lack of variety. If they don't have something in the 20 books there, then youre out of luck. The book lineup probably isn't changing much either.
People do use them. People are always going to want something to read, and you can't beat free. The only problem is when the selection sucks. Same goes for food pantries that aren't being maintained.
im not convinced people actually use these things. it just makes people feel like they are doing something.
now what i do see get used alot is food pantries. my gf works for a food retailer and we would get so much free shit we would take it something that looks like a Little Library but for food. Granted some of it wasnt healthy food, but the samples coming to our house during COVID was insane. And theres nothing wrong with a snack. That thing would get cleared out regularly.
Most of them are in relatively insular neighborhoods, too, so it's like, maybe some of your neighbors will walk by it and see the books you no longer want. Even with kids lit, tastes are really subjective so you kinda need a centralized place with a wide variety (hmmm, what would we call that?).
There's a house close to a park near me that has a free plants and extra produce shelf thingy that seems to be doing a decent job of sharing stuff with the community nearby. Granted, they're 1: giving away stuff people need and 2: giving it in a location that people from other neighborhoods nearby will find themselves.
Most public libraries aren't interested in receiving, cataloging, and shelving most books that people have to give away. Little libraries fill a niche in the print ecosystem.
I didn't intend it that way - just pointing out that the stuff in little libraries is usually just that particular person's cast-offs. Yeah, that would be a nightmare to work with.
very true. i have two very close to me and they are on side streets and dead ends. i dunno if they are even listed on the LL website. and agreed on the lack of variety. If they don't have something in the 20 books there, then youre out of luck. The book lineup probably isn't changing much either.
Didn't even know this existed lmao
i suppose it's the original LL movement, but it seems like there are a ton not listed on their site. i think they send a little plaque too.
I use the ones my neighbors have all the time. Mainly children’s books are good for them but I personally like the idea
People do use them. People are always going to want something to read, and you can't beat free. The only problem is when the selection sucks. Same goes for food pantries that aren't being maintained.
the food library?