Little Free Library announces kids’ book drive

The Little Free Library organization has announced a book drive for kids, to take place Saturday. Where? Little Free Libraries, of course.

Little Free Libraries are community kiosks, often shaped like little houses, where people are encouraged to take or leave a book for free. Initially, it was individuals who bought kits for the kiosks and then placed them in their own yards. Now, institutions have gotten in on the act; there are more than 25,000 Little Free Libraries set up worldwide.

May 16 marks the third anniversary of Little Free Library becoming a nonprofit, and they’re using the opportunity to look ahead. Kids are said to suffer from “summer slide” when the break from school can mean losing up to two months’ language proficiency. Maybe Little Free Libraries can help by providing books all summer.

Little Free Library asks people with new or gently used children’s books to drop them off at their nearest Little Free Library location on Saturday. Those who take photos of the drop-off and post them to social media networks Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with the hashtag #givebooks will be eligible for Little Free Library swag.

Volunteer stewards will collect the books and make them available in the Little Free Libraries over the course of the summer.

Those whose neighborhoods are replete with Little Free Libraries may be interested to know that the organization currently has a Kickstarter going to raise funds to place the book boxes in “book deserts” -- neighborhoods in need.

Book news and more; I’m @paperhaus on Twitter