Musings-Little Free Libraries & Full Libraries

"Little Free Libraries" are a fairly new idea.  It was started by littlefreelibrary.org in 2012 in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

According to their website: Why Does Book Access Matter?  We are facing a growing literacy crisis. Today in the United States, more than 30 million adults cannot read or write above a third-grade level. Studies have repeatedly shown that books in the hands of children have a meaningful impact on improving literacy. The more books in or near the home, the more likely a child will learn and love to read. But two out of three children living in poverty have no books to call their own."  I couldn't agree more.

I think the little free libraries are great, but they are a capsule idea that full-fledged libraries are built around and expand upon.  Everything on the Free Little Library site they plug as their mission and vision is applicable to full-blown, full-service public libraries as well... plus so much more.  

Public libraries offer more than just books for free, most are community hubs and resource centers.  You can hear praise for the Little Free Libraries in one breath and then people want to defund public libraries in the next.  In my town, the public library has computers you can use free for job searches, resume writing classes, computer literacy classes, makers space, english-as-a-second language aid, geneology research help, even tax-filing aid during tax season.  

Little Free Libraries have made tremendous inroads in "reading deserts," such as inner cities.  But consider the case where a lady went through the process (applied, built according to specs, followed rules, and registered her site) and got a Little Free Libary placed in her front yard.  She was overwhelmed when once a week the school bus stopped at her house and children wiped out the books each time.  Public libraries don't run out of books, and my public library system has story hours and librarians who love finding a child a book that is age and reading level appropriate that will help them fall in love with reading.

Little free libraries are the splashy-trendy thing and definitely have their place, but public libraries offer far more to communities and society as a whole.  Their important role mustn't be forgotten or downplayed.  In the article "5 Reasons Why Libraries Are Essential To Have" by Greta Lastauskaite (click here for full article) she notes:

1)  Libraries maintain history, and more importantly, truth

2)  Libraries offer free educational resources

3)  Libraries help to build communities

4)  Libraries are transparent with all the services they provide

5)  Libraries contribute to increasing economy

Georgia Public Broadcasting's article "Public Libraries Are Still Important" by Ashley Payton (click here for full article) shares: "In a society where the cost of living continues to rise, public libraries remain one of the few free spaces that provide public resources catering to the most diverse demographics: toddlers, people facing housing insecurity and unemployment, people with disabilities, students, senior citizens, educators, parents, and caregivers. In public libraries, no matter where you come from or your social-economic status, you can access countless resources and services free of charge...

Public libraries offer more than book rental services. Additionally, they offer vitally essential resources used for educational purposes such as 1) Technological: High-speed internet access, computers, e-books, printers, and other tech gadgets  2) Educational Entertainment: films, games, and music, 3) One-on-One and group services: literacy and homework support, story-time, and afterschool and summer learning programming, teen spaces and study rooms, job training, and other employment services.

At the beginning of the pandemic, schools transitioned into virtual instruction, and most public institutions were physically closed. Many families did not have technological resources such as wifi access - Libraries served in unprecedented capacities. Many libraries provided free supplies, book bundles, curbside assistance, and wifi access." 

The next time you hear somebody saying we need to cut 
funding to libraries, remember how critical full-blown, full-service public libraries are to every community and push back, before the only libraries we have are "little free" ones.

“Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.” – Neil Gaiman

Libraries are perhaps even more important now than before.