Little Is Big

The world is a big place. We’ve got skyscrapers (2,722 feet tall in Dubai) and blue whales (95-100 feet long). But then we have a trend of tiny things: Tumbleweed Houses (65 square feet) and Smart cars (98” long). Right here in Carmel, we have discovered a Tiny Library. On a quiet street a few blocks from the Father Serra statue, a neighbor has offered free books, asking you to leave one if you borrow one. The movement started in 2009 in Wisconsin, for book lovers to share personal libraries with their neighbors.

Carmel Woods Little Library

 

The founders of Little Free Library want to “promote literacy… to build a sense of community… and build more libraries than Andrew Carnegie!” (2,510). They will help you order and build the book boxes (www.littlefreelibrary.org).

Little Free Library

In addition to free neighborhood libraries, public libraries have installed book vending machines on street corners and subway stations. In England, some neighborhoods have salvaged the famous red telephone booths to be tiny book-lending sources.

   

So you can see, even if your local library is closed, you may be able to find free books with a little searching!