A Book A Week

The Little Free Library was started as a way to get communities reading. The premise is quite simple. A Library box is set up in an easily accessible place within the community. Readers then take a book of their choosing and leave one behind. There's no library cards or registration. The only rule is that you must leave a book if you take one. Here are 4 reasons why I love my local Little Free Library. 

1. It takes away the guilt of bringing home more books. 

I'm sure many of you can relate to having more books than you'll ever have time to read. I always joke about my "To Be Read" pile, but I'm not exaggerating when I say that there are piles of books throughout my house that are just waiting to be read. On top of the books that I receive from publishers for review, I also find myself visiting used books stores, garage sales, trading with friends, etc.  I know it is silly, but I feel guilty for bringing home even more books when I already have enough to last a lifetime. When I visit the Little Free Library, I'm forced to part with one of the books from my collection before I can take another. I don't end up with less books at the house, but I also don't end up adding more. That's a definite win in my book. 

2. It forces me to get outdoors. 

Our Little Free Library is located in the neighborhood park. When I made my new years resolution to get more exercise, I started jogging in the park. Imagine my surprise to discover a library there! If I would have known books were in the park, I would have gone there years ago! Now I look forward to my daily jog in part because I get to see if there are any new books to read. 

3. It introduces me to books I might not have otherwise read. 

I'll admit that I often end up reading the same kind of book over and over again. Different people put different genres of books into the library, so I find myself constantly discovering new books. Yes, there are still plenty of mystery/thriller novels there to satiate my usual tastes, but I've also picked up some titles that I wouldn't have given any thought into reading. 

4. It is a great way to interact with your community.

Because the library is free to use for anyone who stumbles upon it, it attracts many different people from all walks of life. The library is maintained by a group of neighborhood members called, The Bibliophile Guardians, but the people who use it are truly the ones who make it flourish. Books have become a point of discussion as I meet people at the library. We talk about the books that we've read and inevitably end up talking about other things as well. All in all, it is not a bad way to meet new people in your area. 

There you have it, 4 reasons why I love having a Little Free Library in my neighborhood. For more information about this initiative and to check your area for nearby libraries, visit the Little Free Library Website. I hope that you'll be inspired to seek out one of these fantastic libraries and start sharing your love of books with your community!