My birthday gift this year from Mr. Diamond is my own Little Free Library. Not that it is mine—it is everyone’s which makes it so wonderful. It is the gift that will keep giving and giving.
Tuesday was the Grand Opening and it went fabulously. I usually tend to over plan and make things more grandiose than I need to. I was thrilled to have 20 people stop by to check out the new library, some books were dropped off and some were taken. All in all it was a successful morning and the torrential rains of the day before showed me that this little library can hold up even in bad conditions.
The Whistlestop Market is gearing up and will soon be in full swing for the spring will the benches and baskets loaded to the brim with produce and goodies. The library sits at the far end down by the wine shop and has great accessibility.
Rod Deaton of Rodu Folk Art is a good friend and he designed and built the Little Free Library for me. I am so pleased with how it turned out. He used his unique Lichtenberg burning to create the special effects and I am so pleased with how it turned out. 
Rod spent hours cutting logs in half to make the fun log cabin design.
I was thrilled to discover that before the open house someone had already left a comment in the guest book that I had placed in the library.
One happy “customer” found a book that my friend McGuffy Ann Morris who blogs at McGuffy’s Reader sent me about Maine Coon cats. She was thrilled to find it.
The top shelf is devoted to adult books and the bottom shelf is designated for children’s and young adult books. I also have included a couple of “pets” that are reading buddies for the children to take to read to to help encourage them to read. It will be fun to see what books get taken and how much activity there is at our Little Free Library.
We are on the official Little Free Library map now and you can view that here . While you are there why not search and see if there are any Little Free Libraries in your area.
A huge thank you again to Val and Diane of the Whistlestop Market for allowing me to place my library at their business. They “get it” and I love that they are encouraging to all who have a dream of giving back.
Don’t forget to leave a comment for our Comments for a Cause for April –The Little Free Library.
44 Comments
Leave a commentThis is wonderful! Birthday blessings to you and Happy reading to those who are blessed by your wishes! Hugs!
Thanks so much. I just get excited when I think about the possibilities. Thank you so much for your contributions!
Anytime. I support this. Maybe when I get up North, I will try this, too. I will let you know. Until then, let me know if I can do anything for your Library. Hugs.
Let me know how it goes! I already have one other person who is “thinking” about putting one up and my post is getting them more excited about it . So exciting !
This is just such a lovely thing to do! Not at all surprised that you are doing it! Proud of you!
Ah..thanks so much. It has been my dream for so long and now my sweet hubby made sure it happened for me. Thanks for the love!
I am so excited for your community and happy that you have made your dream and reality. Why don’t you share this post at my Senior Salon today for others to read?
Thanks, Bernadette! I just might do that! Thanks for the suggestion!
What a great idea and a lovely construction 😊👏🏻
Thanks! I had a great connection with Rod who built it and he really made it fit our area perfectly down to the bear on the sign! Thanks for stopping by!
Wow!! Outstanding design and workmanship! And of course the love and intent that pulls it all together! The Little Library is as special as you are! Congratulations!!
You are the best! Mr. Diamond.
Wonderful day and well-done! I am curious- how many books do you anticipate you will need- for a month, for a year? Will the book “population” in your Little Library remain the same- or increase/decrease?
Congratulations on what appears to be a wonderfully successful grand opening party. Rod did a great job on the design. What an asset this will be to your community. Kudos to you and Chris for making this happen.
There are quite a few LFLs in Faribault–about five of which I am aware and probably more.
Congratulations to you and all who will benefit from the Little Free Library! Mr. Deaton did an awesome job… such a beautiful work of art. The lady with the Maine Coon cat book… her beautiful smile made me smile!
Congratulations on a successful opening of your Little Free Library. It really looks great and I am sure many folks will have hours of enjoyment reading books from it. What a wonderful thing to do. I spoke with my brother in Thailand who said they are appearing all over there as well. You are super awesome!!
Thanks so much Darlene. I just had someone contact me today about putting one up in Ohio. 🙂 Love how contagious they are!
That is fantastic. Nice to see you on Senior Salon as well.
I had a nice invite so I stopped by! Will be checking it out more often now!
I’m very happy for you and I know it will be a huge success! Maybe one day you’ll write a book to add. 😉
Thank you SO much for stopping by! I am over the moon about this as you can tell. And who knows–It’s Just Life may turn into a book one of these days!
My pleasure. And maybe it will. 🙂
Congratulations! So cool you opened one of these! Keep being an amazing person, and we’ll follow your lead!
Thanks so much. You are pretty amazing in your own right!
Congratulations on such a beautifully inspiring idea. I love the craftsmanship and the fabulous spirit of your community. So many people will benefit.
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting and for the congratulations. I am thrilled and yes—I hope that there will be so many people that benefit. Thank you!
The map says there’s one at our local elementary school. Yours looks beautiful!
Cool! You will have to look it up!
Congratulations, wish I was there to help celebrate and to see the book’s.
Thanks so much! I am so excited and I think it is going to be such a great thing for our area. Thanks for the love!
Happy Birthday! What a wonderful gift… 🙂
Jumped over from the Senior Salon
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What a WONDERFUL birthday gift! Like some of the others who commented, I, too, would love to visit in person – and I’d bring an armload of books, some to swap, some to donate.
Thanks for the links as well. I’ll check them out as time permits. Thank you for sharing – with the blogging community as well as with those close enough to visit.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY – and many more.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
Thanks so much Madelyn! Great to meet you and thank you for all of the well wishes! The Little Free Library is making me so happy and I hope that the happiness gets passed around!
I believe there is one in my nabe – but the Cincinnati Library system is one of the best in the nation, IMHO (and I spent 20 years in NYC), so only in the ‘burbs is the Little Free Library likely to catch on with many. I LOVE the idea, however.
xx,
mgh
I bet the Cinci system is fabulous. So many libraries go above my expectations anymore and it is a very good thing. Even small towns like mine in Brevard have an amazing array of services along with the actual books . That is something that always makes me smile!
Me too. I have a library branch right down the street – and I can go online to “order” books from anywhere in the system, receiving an email notice to go pick them up there when they arrive. Plus it is in a gorgeous almost mansion donated for that purpose – with a lovely wrap-around porch.
xx,
mgh
Congrats on your little library. Yesterday Tom and I rode our bike all over the island and I found three little free libraries. Only one of them is registered. As much as I love to read, I am always on the lookout!
That is so awesome!!! I am thrilled that you have so many on your little island. That makes my heart happy!
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