Free Libraries

[Fergus MacGuffin]

lop-sided politics

Is there any other kind?

 

[CuriousCaseOf]

For those looking for a Little Free Library, there's actually an app you can download. It comes with a map of libraries nearby.

 

[Catriona Grace]

Is there any other kind?

One can always hope for moderates to arise amidst the carnage.

 

[FlightlessBird]

Yep. I just checked the website (one of the websites?) that lists them and has a map, and there are seven in walking distance of me. I've only noticed two, but I'm sure I can find the rest.

I have a stack of books waiting for me to remember to put them in my backpack when I take a walk.

 

[Catriona Grace]

There are also many non-offical free libraries that spring up without being registered with littlefreelibrary.org, which charges a one time charter fee for a sign and the right to use the term Little Free Library. The organization actively solicits donations. Unless things have changed quite a bit in the few years since I looked into the matter, most of the revenue taken in goes to salaries for a dozen or so people.

Up the renegade free libraries! Build a study book box, find a place for it, and paint your own darn sign.

 

[Silenia]

There are also many non-offical free libraries that spring up without being registered with littlefreelibrary.org, which charges a one time charter fee for a sign and the right to use the term Little Free Library. The organization actively solicits donations. Unless things have changed quite a bit in the few years since I looked into the matter, most of the revenue taken in goes to salaries for a dozen or so people.

Up the renegade free libraries! Build a study book box, find a place for it, and paint your own darn sign.

Still pretty much the case, though they now have a few more employed folks and about an equal split in expenses between salaries/benefits/comp for employees and other expenses. According to their form 990 for 2023:

* 22 people employed
* Revenue of 3,063,514
* Expenses of 2,877,847
** of which 1,440,634 to Salaries, other compensation, employee benefits; and
** 1,437,213 to Other expenses

 

[Chris P]

On the other hand, we did put some toilet paper in one. (It's not as weird as it sounds, I swear; during the first flush of the Garden of Covid, people were putting hygiene items in the Little Libraries around here.)

We have a few "Little Pantries" around here, stocked with bars of soap, toothpaste, small bags of flour, etc. Mostly in the church yards, but a few elsewhere.

 

[gettingby]

Someone in my neighborhood has been donating their collection of self-help books, and... I've been reading (all of) them. I never read a self-help book before, but these have quickly become my guilty pleasure. A few of these titles show up every few days to a week. And they tend to sit longer so I decided to read them. I'm sure these were bought with good intentions, but clearly never read. They are all in perfect condition.

It's funny, I would have never picked any of these up to even look at in a bookstore. Not because I have anything against self-help books, but I've usually got something else in mind when I go to the bookstore. I don't even know where the self-help section is at my local bookstore or even if there is one. But at the free library no one's around (not that I care about that too much). So I stand there reading back covers and first chapters before dropping them in my tote. And, I just have to say, that I am quite impressed with the current sampling (all new titles for the most part) that has come my way.

So, while I'm fixing myself over here, do any of you have a guilty pleasure when it comes to reading? Even better if you were able to score some at your free library.

 

[Elenitsa]

I donated my books for some such tree libraries (here usually they are called tree libraries, because they are on trees in parks in certain cities). Irony that exactly we in the capital do not have many (I heard about 2-3, but too far away from me).