Little Free (Awesome) Library

In all the years I've lived in LA, I've never had a LA County Public Library card.  Pretty crazy for a nerd as large as myself.  Libraries were a big part of my life growing up both for fun, studying and those pre cell phone days when my siblings and I walked to the library and page my mom from the library payphone.  So, even admitting that I still don't have a library card for my current place of residence, is pretty embarrassing. 

But, I have gone to the library, read plenty of books, and checked out library books.  Yes, I have checked out library books without a library card.  No, not audio book downloads from the online library catalogue.  Not an e-book from the library website.  I checked out a physical book from a library without a library card.  The library wasn't the official public library, but instead a community neighborhood out in front a dentist's office. 

What a cool idea!  How many of us have a ton of books stored away for years that we'd still like to see around, but will probably not read again?  I know I do.  

I first noticed these community libraries at a house about 5 minutes away from me.  It's a cute California bungalow with a hammock in the driveway, a string of lights and a book shelf stuffed with books.  I ran by this house and noticed a homemade sign right next to the sidewalk saying "Stop and Grab a Book" pointing to the driveway with the book shelf.  I stopped dead in my tracks and checked out the selection.  Everything from Harry Potter to childrearing guides to John Muir. The bookshelf had a sticker instructing visitors to leave a book, take a book, or both.  

I've stopped by again and the library was actually fuller than the first time.  Since my discovery of this library right on my normal running route, I've found two more nearby me and both of these community libraries were part of the Little Free Library network.  Today, I picked up a Kurt Vonnegut book from one of them. Somehow I managed to never read a Vonnegut book in high school or college, so I'll get a chance to ameliorate that situation.  Thanks Little Free Library!