I made a Little Free Library this weekend because I love sharing books, connecting with my neighbors, and building community. I enjoy the idea of neighbors connecting to take or leave a book. Spreading a little joy. By exchanging books they are really exchanging ideas and saying this is what is important to me.
If you do not know about the mission of the Little Free Library, it is
“to promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide and to build a sense of community as we share skills, creativity and wisdom across generations.”
I know too, that if I am the only one supplying books for the Little Free Library, that soon my savings account would look grim. And if my neighbors only took books without giving some back, the little upside down bread box would soon be empty. What is needed is for me to give some and for others to give some so that all may take some to enjoy. A little give and a little take.
Not too many things exist on the honor system any more, but Little Free Libraries do. They are a sign of hope and trust in our society. I trust that my neighbors will be good stewards of the little library on our street. I hope it will help to foster a sense of community to connect each other.
I think most of us can agree that is what is missing from our society right now; we are so polarized on so many issues that what we need to do is to have some more give and take from both sides. If we can become better listeners, maybe we can hope to learn from each other too.
(Aspiring to be a) Joy Spreader
