Introducing the library to the neighborhood: (front row, l-r) Jacob Brown and Kate Brown; (middle row l-r) Jaime Gerschutz, Seth Meggison, Logan Gerschutz, Sam Brown, Haden Mullen, and Heather Mullen; and (last row l-r) Warren Thomas, Chad Brown, and Sue Thomas.
The first Little Free Library of Paulding County has been mounted at 10650 Rd. 169 in rural Oakwood, Ohio.
Todd H. Bol is the creator of the Little Free Library concept. Bol’s vision for an accelerated expansion came as a result of giving away 30 Little Free Libraries in 2010 and watching them multiply. Little Free Library is the registered trademark of the Little Free Library organization. The official Little Free Library motto is “Take a Book, Return a Book.” Little Free Library has a social entrepreneurial mission, focused on providing access to books through the expansion of Little Free Libraries sold to or made by stewards. On October 27, 2015 Little Free Library was awarded the Library of Congress Literacy Award for its effective implementation of best practices in literacy and reading promotion. Little Free Library is funded primarily by revenue from the purchase and registration of Little Free Library book exchanges. Little Free Library also seeks donations and contributions from organizations and individuals to expand programs and services.
Dennis Dempsey, Sue’s son-in-law, built the library for her for Christmas from their family (daughter, Jeni Dempsey and twin granddaughters Columbia Dempsey and Kennedy Dempsey). Jesse Hull helped Dennis install the library.
In January, 2016 there are 36,000 Little Free Library book exchanges around the world. They are represented in all 50 states and more than 70 countries. By 2016 Little Free Library is helping exchange an estimated 9.3 million books a year.
A Little Free Library steward is an individual or organization that registers and oversees their Little Free
Library. Approximately 60 percent of Little Free Library book exchanges have been built by stewards and 40 percent built and sold by Little Free Library, with total sales of 12,000 units. Little Free Library stewards have contributed to 250+ Facebook pages dedicated to Little Free Library book exchanges, and more than 30,000 Library photos on Pinterest, Instagram and Flickr.
This Little Free Library’s steward, Oakwood library branch manager, Sue Thomas, is looking toward what she would like to be doing when she retires. Why be a librarian of course! The Little Free Library has made that possible for Sue. Her son-in-law, Dennis, designed and made the library for Sue as a Christmas gift.
Steward for Little Free Library – Sue Thomas
Little Free Library offers 20+ finished Library models, ready-to paint Libraries, build kits, and accessories to stewards at every interest level. Additional products details are available at littlefreelibrary.org. The Little Free Library Book, published by Coffee House Press and written by Margret Aldrich, features more than 350 color photos of Libraries and is available from local bookstores and from littlefreelibrary.org. Little Free Library aims to deepen its current impact by growing to 100,000 libraries worldwide by the end of 2017.
For more information please visit littlefreelibrary.org
