Books for nothing

Little Free Libraries: Boon or boondoggle? Just kidding. These things seem to be popping up all over. While I like the principle — a neat little honor-based book exchange right in the neighborhood — the cynical bastard realist in me wonders how it works in practice.

Today, for example, I walked a couple of books down to the one near me. They were books I didn’t want. At the Little Free Library, I found a bunch more books I didn’t want. So I left empty-handed.

Right away you see the problem: Everybody wants to cull books they consider boring or obsolete. Few people want to borrow such books. Pretty soon the Little Free Library is going to run out of room. Of course, here in Springfield, there’s also the possibility that someone will burn it down.

I left “Killing Lincoln” — a trite, drive-by history by Bill O’Reilly that somebody had given me — and a lesser title by Tony Hillerman. I know: I shouldn’t complain about the selection if I’m going to leave crap. I was tempted to take “Flower Arranging” and “Little Women,” just to get the ball rolling, but I was pretty sure I’d return them unread.

So my question is: Do these things work? I’ve seen them in Missoula and Lexington and Wichita, but I can’t say I’ve ever seen anybody using them. Maybe they’d be best for kids. Next time I walk over there, I’ll leave a couple of children’s books and see what happens. Maybe I’ll also take pictures of the selection every week or so to see what’s moving and what isn’t. I have a feeling “Flower Arranging” might be there awhile.

Is there a Little Free Library in your neighborhood? Have you ever used it?