LITTLE FREE LIBRARY

Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that is a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries. Our vision is a Little Free Library in every community and a book for every reader. We believe all people are empowered when the opportunity to discover a personally relevant book to read is not limited by time, space, or privilege.

How Do We Achieve Our Mission and Vision?
1. Providing 24/7 book access. Little Free Library book-sharing boxes are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day and are freely accessible to all, removing barriers to book access.

2. Fostering new Little Free Libraries. Little Free Library (LFL) equips, educates, and guides volunteer stewards to establish Little Free Libraries in their communities.

3. Granting Little Free Libraries to high-need areas. Through our programs, LFL grants no-cost Little Free Libraries full of books to underserved urban, suburban, rural, and Native communities.

4. Championing diverse books. Through our Read in Color program, LFL makes books available representing BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other diverse voices to promote understanding, empathy, and inclusion.

5. Working with key community partners. LFL collaborates with schools, public libraries, civic organizations, businesses, and other groups to bring Little Free Libraries to their communities.

The Little Free Library nonprofit organization demonstrates several innovative strategies:

1) We increase book access in a creative and democratic way. Over the last decade, Little Free Libraries have changed the literacy landscape (quite literally!), with friendly neighborhood book exchanges dotting communities around the globe. These charming book-sharing boxesfound alongside sidewalks, in public parks, in schoolyards, and moreserve as catalysts for an energized and accessible culture of reading.

Inclusion is one of LFLs hallmarks. Open 24/7, Little Free Libraries put books in the everyday paths of people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. For those who dont have books at home or dont consider themselves readers, a little library can be a gateway into that world. Research shows that immersing kids in a book-rich environment is key to future success.

2) We facilitate community-building around books. Little Free Libraries increase social capital, as volunteer stewards and patrons engage with their communities and each other. In a recent survey of our stewards, 73 percent say theyve met more neighbors and 92 percent say their neighborhood feels like a friendlier place because of a little library. The combination of community-building and large-scale book-sharing is unique to LFL.

3) Weve developed a global network of passionate volunteers who are reading advocates. There are volunteer stewards for more than 180,000 Little Free Libraries worldwide. Some host little libraries in communities with public libraries and bookstores, while others little libraries are the only public source of books. We support, guide, and celebrate these literacy champions as they share the joy of reading.

We serve this network of volunteer stewards and their communities with three branches of programming:

- Our Steward Services program supports our volunteers, providing resources for establishing Little Free Libraries, maintaining a book supply, and engaging with local and global communities.

- Our Impact Library program offers no-cost Little Libraries full of books to underserved communities where they can help improve reading motivation, book access, and community connections. Libraries and books are granted to urban, rural, and Native American communities.

- Our Indigenous Library program focuses on bringing books and Little Free Library boxes to Native American and First Nation communities across the United States and Canada. Launching in 2023, the program is strengthened by the collaboration of Indigenous community members and leaders.

- Our Read in Color initiative brings diverse and inclusive books to cities across the U.S. Since the program launched in 2020, we have provided more than 150 Read in Color Little Free Libraries and 50,000 diverse books.

Little Free Library has a staff of 16 that supports programming, revenue streams, and administrative purposes. They are age- and gender-diverse and represent many years of experience in nonprofit leadership, marketing, product development, manufacturing, publishing, accounting, and community work. Little Free Library headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, allow for local involvement as well as engagement with our global community.

Since the first Little Free Library was created in 2009, this simple idea has snowballed into a worldwide book-sharing movement. There are now more than 180,000 registered Little Free Library book-sharing boxes, found in all 50 U.S. states and 121 countriesfrom Argentina to Zambiaand on all 7 continents.

Through this network, more than 400 million books have been shared, profoundly increasing book access for diverse readers of all ages and backgrounds. At the same time, thousands of human connections have been made, strengthening community ties.

Our organization received the 2020 World Literacy Award and has earned recognition from the Library of Congress, the National Book Foundation, the Book Industry Study Group, Library Journal, the Womens National Book Association, and more.

We look forward to accelerating our mission to broaden book access for all, especially in underserved communities. We recognize that there is much more work to do.