By Sarah Koehler | Photo by Anne Morrissy
In recent years, a new phenomenon in book exchange has emerged — the Little Free Library (LFL). The LFL program began as the dream of Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin. As a tribute to his mother, a schoolteacher and avid reader, and inspired by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, Todd built a model one- room schoolhouse about the size of a mailbox, filled it with books and posted it outside his home. He invited his neighbors and members of his community to, “take a book, leave a book.”
His idea caught the attention of UW-Madison’s Rick Brooks, and together they began building and distributing the structures to other people who were interested in hosting an LFL on their property. By 2011, LFLs were so popular that Bol and Brooks formed a non- profit organization to oversee the program. Based in St. Paul, Minn., Little Free Library’s mission is to serve as “a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers and expanding book access for all, through a global network of volunteer- led Little Free Library book- exchange boxes.” The group believes that access to books should never be limited by space, privilege or time.
By 2013, the program that Bol had started in his yard began garnering national accolades. Little Free Library received the Innovations in Reading Prize from the National Book Foundation, and Bol and Brooks were bestowed with the Movers and Shakers award from the American Library Association in recognition for their role as thought leaders in the library industry.
In 2015, Little Free Library was awarded the Library of Congress Literacy Award for its effective implementation of best practices in literacy and reading promotion.
The Little Free Library concept has turned out to be an idea with hugely universal appeal. By 2022, more than 150,000 LFLs had been established in all 50 states and more than 150 countries worldwide. Locally, Lake Geneva has multiple LFLs, with locations in front of Simple Cafe, along the Shore Path and near the First Congregational Church in Lake Geneva, among many other spots. There are also LFLs in Delavan, Williams Bay, Fontana, Lake Como and other nearby towns and municipalities as well. Most of the libraries are built or maintained by individuals with a love for reading, or by groups doing service work, such as the Geneva Lake Conservancy, the Leadership Dynamics group at Badger High School or the Delavan-Darien graduating class of 2013.
To find LFLs near you, visit littlefreelibrary.org and use the “World Map” function to type in any ZIP code or city. You can also visit the website to start your own LFL (you can purchase the ready-made structures and posts for about $450), or shop for materials to stock existing libraries. The LFL organization also sponsors literacy programs, book exchanges and indigenous and minority-centered programs which help to get books into the hands of those who do not always see themselves represented in mainstream literature.
