Little Free Libraries have been around for a while and, over time, some here in Tucson have become works of art containing free books. So here are a few I’ve seen and photographed recently around MidTown.
The tile-roofed Little Free Library in the Blenman Elm Historic District, at the top of this post, has a cow on one side, a pig on another and a snake hissing about “hisss-tory” on the third side. As a bonus, the yard where this LFL is located has been officially designated as a “Certified Wildlife Habitat” by the National Wildlife Federation. I didn’t realize one could have an official wildlife designation for a front yard, but apparently so. The requirements are on the Federation’s website. And I’ve written more about it on my gardening blog, Hot Gardens.
The Little Free Library on the left was created and painted by students at the Doolen Middle School. For some reason it is located in a neighborhood nearby. Perhaps in front of a teacher’s home? The other two are just nice Little Free Libraries that echo the colors and/or architectural style of the owners’ homes.
In the Samos neighborhood one can pick out a free book — and this one is always jam-packed — as well as see all the neighborhood news on the bulletin board. I wish every Tucson neighborhood had an official bulletin board for local events. AND, on the right is an open LFL in front of a vacant lot on Treat Street. Treat is an officially designated bicycle street and in the LFL is a cycling helmet for free, as well as a lot of books. I assume it is being maintained by the neighborhood association.
This LFL, identified as Alex’s LFL, has its own brick terrace and a background/fence of book titles. While the paint on the book-fence has faded the LFL has obviously been maintained. In the middle photo on the side of the LFL is a smaller box that contains free seeds courtesy of Angelika. Maybe she is Alex’s sister? And on the back is information in the shape of a honeybee hive. (I only read part of it.)
In the European style custom homes behind the Mercado San Agustin is a LFL that’s labeled Pequena Biblioteca. The signage is decorated with tiles from San Theresa’s Tile Works. The books inside are in English, not Spanish. Interestingly enough, this is the only Little Free Library that offered children’s books. It seems to me that having books for children would be #1 on every LFL owner’s list.
And in the Master Gardener’s educational garden for school children out on Campbell, there is a Little Free Library that from the front looks like a red barn, although it’s really a red box. What was surprising was that there did not seem to be gardening books or books for children in this LFL. Again books for little children should be in every LFL in the country!
If you are interested in joining the Little Free Library organization, go here. But you should know that you don’t have to join; you can just put up a little library in front of your home and stock it with books. I’d suggest children’s books!!
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