Little Free Libraries – inspiring literacy and community connection

I don’t think I’ve mentioned before, but I’m a bit obsessed with Little Free Libraries. You know the ones – those super cute wooden boxes scattered around neighbourhoods, filled with books waiting to be discovered. Every time I spot one, it gives me a secret thrill to have stumbled across such a hidden treasure.

There’s something so magical about them. Someone decided to create a tiny book haven, fill it with stories, and trust their neighbours to enjoy and share in return. You know my feeling on the whole library experience in general, so I really dig these things, tucked into spots where no actual library exists for people to enjoy. Those are little slices of heaven to me. And really, in a world that often feels fast-paced and impersonal, in addition to the book-sharing aspect, I think these Little Free Libraries stand as reminders of connection and generosity.

Little Free Libraries are more than just books

I love how each one tells a story to the community about its steward. Well, not a whole story, but gives you a tiny glimpse into their brain. I walk past one every day on the way to see my dad at the long term care home and it makes me so curious about the person who put it there. The box looks like a little house complete with shingles on the roof and a porch light over the door. Looks like it could have been a fancy doll house in a former life. Maybe. Me, though? I prefer to believe they took the time to build it that way. Went to all that trouble of putting trim and a front porch on the house to make it look authentic. That they were thinking about everyone in the neighbourhood who would use it over time and how much joy they would get out of its contents and wanted to mirror that with its appearance to make people smile.

It’s probably more the repurposed wooden doll house thing, I’m sure, but don’t burst my illusions.

And the books that end up in a Little Free Library? Stories aside, each holds the essence of their journey to get there. They could have been read aloud to a child. Devoured on a rainy afternoon. Enjoyed on a beach. Gripped tightly in one hand during an after work streetcar commute. Studied during a transatlantic flight to a far off place… Until they found a new home

In this way, Little Free Libraries build bridges between strangers. They connect people who may never meet but who share a love of stories and learning. Every book I’ve added to one of these libraries leaves a piece of myself behind – a favourite passage, a dog-eared page, or the memory of a story that once kept me company. And I make a new friend I will never know.

Supporting literacy, one book at a time

As someone who’s spent decades as both a commercial and fiction writer, not to mention has read thousands of books, I hold a deep appreciation for the written word. To me, books are more than just entertainment – they’re tools for learning, and food for growth and connection. They help us understand the world and each other, and for some, they’re an escape when life feels overwhelming.

I also strongly believe in supporting literacy for everyone. Little Free Libraries do more than give books a second life – they make reading accessible to people who might not otherwise have access. That’s such an important thing. Not everyone has a bookshelf at home or the means to buy the latest novel and many neighbourhoods no longer have public libraries. But anyone can visit a Little Free Library and find something to spark their imagination.

In that way, I feel these tiny book havens become lifelines where we’re all only a book width away from each other. They give children the chance to fall in love with reading and adults the opportunity to explore new ideas. They’re proof that even the smallest effort – leaving a book for someone else – can have a ripple effect on a community. And, by extension, send those positive vibes out into the world.

Make love, not war, baby. Read more books.

Decorating the neighbourhood

Little Free Libraries don’t just offer books – they add personality to the streetscape. Some are simple boxes on posts, painted bright colours, while others are miniature works of art. And apparently there are about 38 shaped like a TARDIS from Doctor Who. Because books are bigger on the inside. D’uh.

I’ve seen them decorated for seasons and holidays, with pumpkins in autumn or fairy lights in December. Many have solar-powered lights that make them a beacon for late-night bookworms. They’re much more than functional – they’re art and community pride wrapped into one.

A love letter to Little Free Libraries

If you’ve never visited a Little Free Library, consider this your sign to find one. There’s a map on the not for profit website to help you find Little Free Libraries near you. Or now that they’re in your thoughts, you might just notice one during a walk.

And if you’re already a fan, why not add a book or two the next time you visit? It’s a simple way to spread joy and give a story a new life.

Little Free Libraries remind us that stories are meant to be shared. They’re proof that community and generosity can flourish in even the smallest spaces. For me, they’re a celebration of everything I’ve loved about books since I read my first back – the power to connect, to inspire, and to remind us that we’re never truly alone.