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Frequently Asked Questions

Questions
1. Won't people steal the books?







2.  Won't someone vandalize the Little Library? 







3.  Can I put it on public property?  What are the city regulations that affect this?  
















4.  What if we run out of books? 







5. Why don't you just have a bookshelf with a sign that says "Free Books" or "Take a book, leave a book"?  Don't hotels and coffee shops already have things like this?  What 's so special about having a Little Free Library? 







6.  Who can I talk to about underwriting, creating a citywide or statewide program, or sponsorship?  





















  








 
Answers
No.  You can't steal a free book.  And if you have a good steward and lots of active users, eventually someone who tries to "steal" books will realize that it's not a good thing to do.  If they do take books, they might even read them!   A message sticker or stamp in the book will help prevent used bookstores from buying them.  It will also notify the sticky fingered folks that they are violating the spirit of the entire Little Free Library movement. 


In a full year of experience with Little Libraries, only one incident occurred--a door was removed.  But here's the catch.  If was found within a day, a neighbor repaired it and it was back on the Library within another day. Then within a month, three Libraries were damaged by drunk people. But don't worry. Those incidents occurred while hundreds of thousands of people passed by the Libraries and probably tens of thousands used them. If you're anxious, put the Library in a highly visible spot; not in a vacant lot with weeds and trash all around it. Have lots of people using it and looking out for it.  Keep it clean and busy.

Each city, town, park system, streets and zoning office is likely to have different rules.  You can apply for permits, variances and approvals but it could take a long time.  So...here's what we have learned so far: 
a. The best strategy is to avoid needing to ask permission. Unless you are "the man" (the city government, for example) that is officially sponsoring the Library, pick a spot on private property. That means across the street from the park; between the sidewalk and your house rather than between the walk and the street. 
b.The larger the municipality, the more difficult approval may be.They have so many requests for exceptions to the rules that they often are afraid of setting a precedent.
c.  Be considerate of other people's rights. Don't put the Library where it might impede snow shoveling.  Near a bike path or nature trail, make sure that people who stop to give and get books won't be blocking the path.  "Right of Way" is an important concept to honor. 
d.  Assure whoever is worried that you have a good steward and lots of people who will look out for it over the long term.  The authorities don't want to have added responsibilities.  . 


Ask Library users, neighbors and potential users to contribute books.  Keep them informed about what they can bring.  But don't let people assume that someone else (you, for example) is solely responsible. The more people who participate, the better. 

If you have trouble answering any of these or other questions, ask all the people who signed up for the Facebook Little Free Library page. They have plenty of ideas.   


If this were just about providing free books on a shelf, the whole idea might disappear after a few months.  There is something about the Little Library itself that people seem to know carries a lot more meaning.  Maybe they know that this isn't just a matter of advertising or distributing products. The unique, personal touch seems to matter, as does the understanding that real people are sharing their favorite books.  Leaving notes or bookmarks, having one-of-a-kind artwork on the Library or constantly re-stocking it with different and interesting books can make all the difference.  These aren't just any old books!  And by the way...do you know a great place to find practically any book you might want to read?  Your public library!  Through inter-library loans, children's programs, special events and Friends of Libraries, public libraries are treasures...and so are local, independent bookstores.  Support them!  Libraries big and small; we support them all.

When in doubt, call Rick Brooks, 608-345-0750 or Todd Bol, 715-338-2223. Or send us a note via our Contacts page.