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Creative Little Free Library Ideas for Your Neighborhood

Published on April 10, 2019Last updated October 22, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

This post contains affiliate links.
Read full disclosure statement here.

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Little Free Libraries are community sharing hubs where you can take or leave free items. While they began with books, today you might find everything from seeds and plants to food, toys, or even sticks for dogs.

If you’re interested in ecological gardening but worry about pushback, How to Grow a Pollinator-Friendly Front Garden Without Freaking Out Your Neighbors has helpful tips.

Little free libraries with books inside.
Photo Credit: Little Free Library

Little Library Design Ideas

Colorful little free library with books inside.

Some images in this article are from the book
 Little Free Libraries and Tiny Sheds: 12 Miniature Structures You Can Build
and appear with permission from Quarto Publishing Group.

Little Libraries For All Ages

Little free library filled with books.
Photo Credit: Little Free Library

Fun contrast between the adult library and the quirky one for kids:

Quirky children's little free library and classic adult little free library.
Photo Credit: Little Free Library

If you’re planning to put one in your front yard, make sure you place it on your lot and not on city property. That’s the top reason these boxes get removed.

Red Little Free Library
Photo Credit: Little Free Library

This kit on Amazon is similar to the one picture above:

  • Little Free Library KIT | Amazon

If you want to build one from scratch, look for used cabinets with doors at thrift shops and add details like a slanted roof and mounting post.

More Little Library Ideas

These are just a few of the little free libraries I have seen in the wild!

Colorful little free library in garden.
Colorful garden with little free library.
Little free library with quote painted around door frame.
Tall, narrow little free library.
Little free library filled with books.
Little Free Libraries spotted in the wild
Little free library with red-framed door.

For more design ideas, search “little free library” on Pinterest or Google.

Little free libraries
Little Free Library with words "a book is a dream you hold in your hands" on glass door.
Little Free Library – Port Dover, Ontario

While these examples have books, the whole concept has expanded to an array of items:

  • surplus garden harvests and non-perishable food items
  • toys
  • board games
  • garden seeds
  • seedlings
  • sticks for dogs

And the funniest one yet: take a stone, leave a stone!

It’s another unique way to help foster community.

Resources

Little Free Libraries book cover.

Little Free Libraries & Tiny Sheds
12 Miniature Structures You Can Build

by Philip Schmidt

See it on Amazon

Little Free Libraries & Tiny Sheds includes building plans for 12 miniature structures and oodles of photos of little free libraries from around the world. There is also sound advice for running your own little library, to help ensure success.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛

Creative Little Free Library Ideas for Your Neighborhood
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Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
Join me as I share creative + frugal home & garden ideas with a dash of humor.
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