It’s true. Dreams really can come true.
Wait–my birthday isn’t until April 28th. What’s this talk about a birthday wish so early in the year?
I am a planner. Chris and I HAVE to be planners with the kind of life we live right now. Organizing our calendars and making sure we are on the same page is something that we have to do on a weekly basis or else we are lost.
So you know I love books.
You know I love reading.
You know I love giving books as gifts.
You know I love making a difference.
You know I love Little Free Libraries.
You know where this is going, right?
I am putting up a Little Free Library for my birthday!!!! Notice the exclamation marks. They are appropriate in this case.
My own charter number! It’s official!
It is my gift from Chris and from anyone else who wants to join in the fun. I have always wanted to put one up but we never lived where it made sense to have one in our yard. Especially since we move a bit. No sense asking someone else to keep up with it, right?
So this is the year it is going to happen. I got a no from the first location but the second location said a resounding YES and in April there will be a brand new Little Free Library located at The Whistlestop Market just down the road from me in Cedar Mountain, NC. Owners Diane Slover and Val Gerdes were both there the day I went in to broach the subject of putting a Little Free Library somewhere on their property and I did not have to do a sales pitch at all. These ladies get it. They understand that their spot on route 276 is a great location and their customers are some of the best folks around. They are a bright spot in the community and happy to give back when they can. Recently they helped organize and deliver massive quantities of supplies for firefighters fighting the wildfires in our area.
I asked my good friend Rod of Rodu Folk Art if he would be willing to build me a library instead of me purchasing one and he was happy to oblige. I can not wait to see what he comes up with but I know it is going to be wonderful. Check out his work on his Facebook page here to see some of the amazing items that he creates. I am not going to tip my hand yet as to what we are thinking it will be but trust me–it will fit in at The Whistlestop Market perfectly.
Little Free Libraries are popping up everywhere and mine will be one of over 50,000 registered ones world wide. The philosophy is to provide books free of charge to anyone who wants one. Folks are also encouraged to leave a book as well if they have one to donate. As “steward” I will oversee the library and make sure that it is stocked with great books for all ages.
Several of my friends have been successful in getting Little Free Libraries set up in their hometowns as well. Val from Corn Beans Pigs and Kids shares in her post here about the one in Latimer, Iowa. Audrey from Minnesota Prairie Roots shares the joy of seeing one installed in her childhood home of Vesta, Minnesota.
I am thrilled to say the least. This will be the best birthday ever. If you are an author and would like to donate a copy of your book to my library I would love it. I will also be asking that anyone who normally gives me a birthday gift just give me a book or a donation for my Little Free Library this year.
If you have happened upon a Little Free Library I would love to hear about it. Don’t forget that every comment this month means a 50 cent donation to The Cindy Platt Boys and Girls Club of Transylvania County. Every comment counts.
Little Free Library at Dothan Area Botanical Gardens
35 Comments
Leave a commentI will send you a book. Or two. Or more. 🙂
Yay! Thank you! I hope it will be a huge hit with lots of visitors! Heck–you may be able to put the book in yourself if we get it up by the time you visit!
How wonderful! I would say that you have THE very sweetest husband in the world, but since that position is taken by MINE, we’ll just have to say that those two share that honor!
I agree. We share, don’t we? Honestly–this has been my wish for so long and when I asked Chris he said to go for it and it will be the perfect present! Thanks for stopping by!
Wish we were closer and I could keep you supplied with books. Our library has a cart they put in the lobby when we cull books and for donations we can’t use. An endless supply!
How exciting! After knowing what to look for, I saw one down in Charlotte at the intersection of East and South Blvds. But yours will be better, I’m sure.
This is simply awesome and so are you!!!
How wonderful! I’d love to have one of those near me, but out here in rural-land, there’s not too many handy spots to put one. I do know one of our school district’s high schools has one but that’s a good 45-minute drive away from me. Anyway, can’t wait to see your designed box!
So happy and excited for you! Looking forward to hearing more! Also thanks for all the interesting links in this post. Tell your fed ex and USPS deliverers that lots of books will be coming!
I am so over the moon excited, Jena. I want to fill it with wonderful books (like yours) and am hopeful that the idea will catch on here and others will go up. It is the perfect birthday present. 🙂
This is the best birthday idea and suits you perfectly. What a blessing this will be to your community.
Thanks for the shout out about the LFL at the Vesta Cafe in my hometown of Vesta. After that was installed, the cafe operators added shelves inside the cafe for even more books. That makes my heart happy.
Can’t wait to see the design.
We have many LFLs in Faribault.
I am thrilled! Talked to Lali today (her hubby is the one making it) and she said it will be done by next week probably! So we are way ahead of schedule. I can’t wait to see it. Kind of like birthing a baby!
Excellent idea for a birthday present! And makes a person think about where a good location would be around here. Hmmmm…would need to have foot traffic near and easy access….will have to think on it.
Finding the right place is the hard part I think. I am thrilled with my location and am hopeful that it will be well received and used a lot. Found out today that it is almost finished! Way ahead of schedule!
I’m so happy that you have found the perfect spot for your own Little Free Library!
Me, too! I am over the moon!
Great gift idea!
Thanks! I am now collecting books—I think it will be fun to see what comes and goes from the library over time!
What FUN. And I would like to be a birthday little library sponsor. I am not sure this would work or how but adding a Kindle component to it would be so cool. I never read “books” these days but I have so much loaded on my kindle. I wonder if from time to time you could leave a amazon certificate for a free kindle book. This could also be an incentive for people to drop by. Probably not my mind tends to wander….What are a couple books you would most like to add…??
You are wonderful and I love the Amazon gift card idea as well! The wheels are turning…. as for what books — anything that you love. I will have titles for children to adults and to me there is no bad book. I am really hoping some of my friends who are authors will donate as well. You rock!
I’m so excited for you!
Thanks!! Me, too!!!
Amazing way to share your love of reading📚
Thank you, Karen. I am so excited and know it is going to be a great thing in our little area. They are such great ideas and to have one made by a friend is even better. Hope you are well!
Congratulations! Can’t wait to see it!
I am so excited. Thanks for your support.
What a fabulous birthday present. He really is the best!! It is so expensive to mail things from Spain but perhaps the next time I am in North America I can send you a book or two. I can´t wait to see how it looks when completed. Don´t keep us in suspense for too long!!
There’s a Little Free Library in Cornelius on Church Street. I drive by it every time I go to yoga. There was talk of putting one up in my neighborhood but I never heard anything more about it. Thanks for the reminder: I’m going to check to see what happened with it!
I bet there are a ton around the Lake Norman area. I will have to go look at the map. It is just such a fun thing to be able to do and there is no limit to the creativity when it comes to construction. I love the everyone can do their own thing and not have to have them be exactly the same. Thanks for stopping by!
I bet there are a ton around the Lake Norman area. I will have to go look at the map. It is just Lookssuch a fun thing to be able to do and there is no limit to the creativity when it comes to construction. I love the everyone can do their own thing and not have to have them be exactly the same. Thanks for stopping by! Looks like there are 7 in Huntersville alone!https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/
There are no dumb questions! I have one though- do you want new books only? Or gently used too? Thanks!
Gently used are a ok! And media mail is my best friend!!!!
[…] start a Little Free Library like my friend Beth Ann, […]
[…] You know by now I am passionate about books and reading and on April 4th my very own Little Free Library will be up and running just a couple of miles down the road from my house. You can read my first post about that news by clicking here. […]
[…] start a Little Free Library like my friend Beth Ann, […]