Baltimore Little Free Libraries

“Little Free Libraries,” a small-scale literary movement with a powerful message, is coming to Baltimore this fall, courtesy of the Village Learning Place.

Perched on poles, the miniature lending libraries resemble whimsical birdhouses, but are actually home to books free for patrons to borrow and return. Since the concept originated in Wisconsin three years ago, Little Free Libraries have captured the imagination of book lovers around the world. So far, hundreds of communities across the country and abroad have constructed and installed their own Little Free Libraries in neighborhoods, parks and other public spaces.

The Village Learning Place plans to create a network of Little Free Libraries throughout the Charles Village neighborhood in North Baltimore.

“Little Free Libraries will help to inspire a love of reading, connect neighbors, and foster community pride,” says Lindsey Henley, Volunteer and Community Relations Coordinator for the Village Learning Place. “We want Baltimore to join the 34 states and 17 countries where more than 300 Little Free Libraries have sprung up.”

From Oct. 15-19, the Little Free Library project will be featured on GiveCorps.com, a Baltimore-based website that raises money for nonprofit organizations nationwide. The Village Learning Place hopes to raise $7,000 to cover the cost of materials, fees, permits, books and long-term maintenance of the libraries.

Founded in 1997, the Village Learning Place is home to a lending library, community garden and after-school program, and is a flourishing hub for cultural and civic events. “We delight in providing meaningful opportunities for neighbors to congregate and celebrate and we think Little Free Libraries fits the bill for us on several levels,” Henley says.

Little Free Library events will continue through next spring. On Nov. 12, volunteer carpenters from the Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt publishing company will help the Village Learning Place staff construct ten of the Little Free Libraries. Local Baltimore artists will be invited to paint five of these.

The first five Little Free Libraries will be installed March 2013 throughout Charles Village in locations still to be determined. And the five Little Free Libraries decorated by local artists will be auctioned off next April during National Library Week.

Once the first wave of Little Free Libraries settles into Baltimore, the Village Learning Place hopes to highlight them on walking tours and hold workshops in which participants can build their own.