Imagining Unlimited Potential with Little Free Library
What comes to mind when you hear this month’s Rally to Read theme, imagination? For our friends at Little Free Library (LFL), the answer is wide-ranging. Perhaps imagination reflects the wonder one feels when they approach a neighborhood Little Free Library – what titles might be found inside? Imagination could be the driving force behind each Little Free Library’s unique design. Most importantly, imagination could apply to the endless possibilities that books shared by LFL communities can provide. As Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) wraps up our annual Rally to Read initiative, we are excited to hear from LFL, who dive into the theme of imagination by exploring what it means to them and how it can inspire young readers. Be sure to head to RallytoRead.org to learn more about this exciting reading initiative and visit Literacy Central for additional free reading resources.
Have you ever stumbled upon a Little Free Library in your neighborhood? Did you stop to look inside? Maybe you found a book that intrigued you and took it home. Perhaps you discovered magic in that book-sharing box. LFL’s mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-sharing boxes.
LFL is the embodiment of imagination. Stewards build and paint their libraries in creative ways to match their personality, reading tastes, and neighborhood aesthetics. Books shared in Little Free Libraries range from more factual memoirs and biographies to imaginative fantasy series and captivating romances. As bookworms, we know that reading helps strengthen our imaginations. We picture characters and setting, try to figure out what’s going to happen next, and perhaps even explore stories of our own once we close the book. And now we know that Little Free Library book-sharing boxes help children to read more.
A new study shows the significant influence of Little Free Library book-sharing boxes on children’s reading habits. The multi-site observational study, conducted from September to November 2024, examined the influence of Little Free Libraries on book access and reading frequency, particularly among underserved communities. Researchers surveyed 768 children in Baltimore County, Maryland, and found that increased book availability led to more frequent reading, where 92% of children reported having more access to books because of Little Free Library book-sharing boxes. It was also reported that children who visit a Little Free Library read an average of 1.1 additional days per week - that’s 92% of children who have more access to inventive tales, inspiring characters, and magical lands. These children who visit a Little Free Library are spending 1.1 days more per week learning new things and exploring educational themes.
“Access to books is at the heart of LFL’s mission,” said Greig Metzger, LFL Executive Director. “These findings confirm what we’ve long believed and known anecdotally—when children visit a Little Free Library and discover a book that brings them joy, or a book that they can connect with, they read more. And that act of reading opens up a whole wide world of opportunities.”
We’re thrilled that Little Free Libraries are helping children to read more. Every child should be able to see themselves in the pages of a book, and everyone should have access to books that act as windows into different experiences. By expanding our imaginations through reading, we can increase understanding, empathy, and inclusion.
Download the free Little Free Library mobile app at LittleFreeLibrary.org/App, and be sure to follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok to see innovative Little Free Library designs from around the world. If you feel inspired to start a book-sharing box of your own, you can learn more about starting a Little Free Library at LittleFreeLibrary.org/Start.
Sarah Nelson is the Content Marketing Manager at Little Free Library.