Little Free Libraries are sprinkled throughout the nooks and crannies of the entire United States and on all continents, spreading the joys of reading across state lines, genres, and age groups.
And with the Little Free Library App and the Little Free Library Map Near Me guide, it’s easier than ever to explore the Little Free Libraries in your community. You never know what hidden paperback gem you can find in Little Free Libraries, especially On Lake Superior!
“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.”
Little Free Library Website
I love that new book smell, but sometimes, it’s hard to get your hands on a new book with other financial obligations in the mix. That’s one of the many things I love about Little Free Libraries: much like community libraries, they bridge the gap between having access to books and not being able to afford new books.
What is a Little Free Library?
A Little Free Library is a book-exchange box, typically located in an area with a good amount of foot traffic. People can take a book if they’d like, or leave books if they have extra books they’d like to share with the community. Millions of books are exchanged each year through Little Free Library boxes, which profoundly increases access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds all over the globe.
Everyone, regardless of any circumstances, deserves the opportunity to read and continue their reading journey with books that excite them. Isn’t that one of the purest feelings in the world? When you get those little bookish butterflies fluttering in your bookworm stomach after you’ve read an intriguing blurb on the back of a book with an interesting cover, and you get to take it home, cozy up, and dive in? That’s the feeling everyone should have access to, and that’s just one of the wonderful missions of the Little Free Library organization.
As stated perfectly on the Little Free Library Website:
“Building community.
Inspiring readers.
Expanding book access.”
In 2020, I graduated from CVTC with an Associate Degree in Library & Information Services; I’ve found an oasis in libraries ever since I can remember. The harmonious feeling of a thousand stories all humming in blissful undertones as you scan the stacks. The millions of characters waiting for their tales to be heard and for your bookworm hearts to connect. Libraries truly are one of the oldest and mighty pillars of communities across the world, and they consistently remain free and open to the public. Now, is that rad or what?
I bring up my little ole college years because one of my favorite units was studying/observing Little Free Libraries and learning more about them. It’s bringing the library out into neighborhoods, parks, and even country roads, and there is something so wholesome and moving about that.
Although the library is free for everyone, perhaps not everyone has access to go there or they have other reasons for not visiting. But, a Little Free Library is available to all and there are so many of them to be explored wherever you go! That’s where the Little Free Library App comes in handy; you can pull the app up when you go on an out-of-town adventure and see where there are Little Free Libraries near you, isn’t that neat!?
If you’re wondering, ‘Where’s a Little Free Library near me?’ I encourage you to check out their Little Free Library Website, where you can view the Little Free Library Map Near Me section.
This is a little video I made about Little Free Libraries and the neat, bookish idea my Mother-in-Law and I collaborated on.
I share my passion for the Little Free Library organization and the philosophy of letting books live on.
The Little Free Library featured in this video is at Memorial Park Campground in Washburn, WI, and it is called ‘Thrivent Community Superior Shores’ Charter #56635
Little Free Library History
You’ve heard a bit of my personal history with Little Free Libraries; now, let’s dive into the Little Free Library History and how these cute and inspiring little pop-ups came about.
Before Little Free Libraries began to spread all across the world, it began with a single Little Free Library in St. Paul, Minnesota. Beginning with the inspiring mission to have a 24/7 accessible book resource for diverse books in the community sprung into the ambitious journey of having a Little Free Library in every community and sharing the wealth of books for all.
Little Free Library is a non-profit organization that lives and breaths for providing diverse and accessible books to everyone, especially in high-need areas. With donations, sponsors, and volunteers, they are able to build and grant Little Free Libraries in neighborhoods and communities that deserve the enrichment of books. You can become a volunteer or donor yourself to be a part of this wholesome and inspiring movement!
The do-gooder folks at Little Free Library are busy bees with building and granting Little Free Libraries all over the world, and the bookish action doesn’t stop there. There are three valuable and incredible programs that Little Free Library runs, which is: the Impact Library Program, the Indigenous Library Program, and the Read in Color program. Each serves a vital purpose and changes lives, which can be even further enhanced with a little or big donation from a book lover like yourself. I highly encourage you to click those links and check out these beautifully-missioned programs, it truly is inspiring and remarkable!
Give Little Free Library a follow on Facebook & Instagram to stay up to date on new Little Free Libraries in the area and exciting news in the community.
For a quick and informational look inside Little Free Library, check out their video below!
Little Free Library Near Me On Lake Superior
Let’s check out where you can find these cutesy book stops on Lake Superior in a couple of major areas!
These Little Free Libraries are neatly placed, and each has its own personality, story, and charter number. Some are outside of establishments, on the Island, hanging out in parks, or outside avid readers’ homes. If you hop on the Free Little Library website, you can see pictures for yourself when you go on their map and click on the little icons on the map.
You can also look on their website to check out the map for yourself or on their mobile app.
Ashland (12 Little Free Libraries)
- Thrivent Community Superior Shores
- 2021 6th St E, Ashland, WI
- Charter #56651
- Thrivent Community Superior Shores
- 102 14th Ave E, Ashland, WI
- Charter #56647
- Thrivent Community Superior Shores
- 118 11th Ave E, Ashland, WI
- Charter #56654
- David Pagels
- 623 Main Street E., Ashland, WI
- Charter #48014
- Thrivent Community Superior Shores
- 201 Lake Shore Dr W, Ashland, WI
- Charter #56659
- Presbyterian-Congregational Church
- 214 Vaughn Ave, Ashland, WI
- Charter #56644
- SARA HUDSON #5942 ASHLAND WI
- 601 Main St W, ASHLAND, WI
- Charter #5942
- Thrivent Community Superior Shores
- 417 6th St. W, Ashland, WI
- Charter #56650
- Thrivent Community Superior Shores
- 619 9th Ave W, Ashland, WI
- Charter #56658
- Aunt Sheila’s Library
- Macarthur & 11th, Ashland, WI
- Charter #76334
- Northwood Tech Ashland Free Little Library
- 2100 Beaser Ave, Ashland, WI
- Charter #129467
- Thrivent Community Superior Shores
- Park Road, Prentice Park, Ashland, WI
- Charter #56652
Washburn (9 Little Free Libraries)
- Gramma O’s Little Free Library
- 220 Fifth Avenue West, Washburn, WI
- Charter #123107
- Tracy Martinez #32668 Washburn WI
- 231 W. 5th St., Washburn, WI
- Charter #32668
- Thrivent Community Superior Shores
- 146 W Bayfield St, Washburn, WI
- Charter #56645
- AdventureUs
- 101 W Bayfield St, Washburn, WI
- Charter #56631
- Chris Lindsey #142388
- 1 West Bayfield Street, Washburn, WI
- Charter #142388
- Jackie’s Field
- 300 E 3rd St, Washburn, WI
- Charter #56640
- Thrivent Community Superior Shores
- 400 E 3rd St, Washburn, WI
- Charter #56639
- Thrivent Community Superior Shores
- 715 E 3rd St, Washburn, WI
- Charter #56656
- Thrivent Community Superior Shores
- Memorial Park, Washburn, WI
- Charter #56635
Cornucopia (1 Free Little Library)
- Thrivent Community Superior Shores
- Jim’s House, Cornucopia
- Charter #56636
Madeline Island (1 Free Little Library)
- Ferry Landing Library
- 776 Main St, La Pointe, WI
- Charter #128274
Superior (14 Free Little Libraries)
- Kelly & Kids Homestead little library
- 6626 John Ave, Superior, WI
- Charter #106217
- Little Free Library
- 3713 E 3rd St, Superior, WI
- Charter #62161
- Amelia
- 3616 E Third St, Superior, WI
- Charter #105986
- The Soar Family Library
- 2626 East 7th Street, Superior, WI
- Charter #153929
- Stephanie Dzikonski #166885
- 505 20th Ave E, Superior, WI
- Charter #166885
- McKone Free Little Library
- 1621 E 10th Street, Superior, WI
- Charter #51606
- GL Elementary PTA Little Library
- 129 N 28th Street E, Superior, WI
- Charter #63363
- The Library Around the Corner
- 1307 N 23rd St, Superior, WI
- Charter #168183
- Books to Share
- 2302 Hammond Ave, Superior, WI
- Charter #87768
- Sullivan’s Little Free Library
- 1718 N 22nd St, Superior, WI
- Charter #62170
- Katie’s place
- 32 Highgate Street, Superior, WI
- Charter #62168
- PHILLIPS FAMILY FREE LITTLE LIBRARY
- 1223 N. 16Th St., Superior, WI
- Charter #106210
- The Two Black Cats little library
- 1306 Cumming Avenue, Superior, WI
- Charter #101803
- Julie Larson #62160 Superior WI
- 1115 Hammond Ave., Superior, WI
- Charter #62160
Duluth (52 Little Free Libraries)
- Stephanie Lunning
- 2831 Minnesota Ave., Duluth, MN
- Charter #10946
- Park Point Beacon
- 1140 Minnesota Avenue, Duluth, MN
- Charter #40834
- Vine’s Little Library
- 814 W 6Th Street, Duluth, MN
- Charter #125184
- Dalager’s Little Free Library
- 2411 Springvale Rd, Duluth, MN
- Charter #93254
- Joe’s Little Free Library
- 3045 Hutchinson Rd, Duluth, MN
- Charter #137584
- Bookwyrm Little Free Library
- 1919 Denim Street, Duluth, Minnesota
- Charter #165875
- Jane Martin
- 118 S Basswood Ave, Duluth, MN
- Charter #10699
- Elise Pechek #107113
- 810 N Arlington Ave, Duluth, MN
- Charter #107113
- Little Bird Library
- 207 Wren Drive, Duluth, MN
- Charter #165872
- Neighborhood Nature Nook & Little Library
- 1512 Boulevard Place, Duluth, MN
- Charter #149487
- Kala Pedersen #126008
- 1715 Warren Ave, Duluth, MN
- Charter #126008
- Promise Preschool
- 1100 E. Superior St., Duluth, MN
- Charter #68083
- Hillside Public Orchard
- 500 East 10th Street, Duluth, MN
- Charter #62576
- Brewery Creek Little Free Library
- 428 E 10th Street, Duluth, Minnesota
- Charter #147852
- Marie Pank #165868
- 723 Eeat 7th Street, Duluth, MN
- Charter #165868
- Blue Wolf Little Free Library
- 1009 East 8th street, Duluth, MN
- Charter #165867
- Jim Larson #156664
- East Hillside, Duluth, MN
- Charter #156664
- Jon Bakke #50714
- 1417 East Fifth Street, Duluth, MN
- Charter #50714
- John Pastor #2278
- 1612 E Skyline Pkwy, Duluth, MN
- Charter #2278
- 1132 Chester Park Drive
- 1132 CHESTER PARK DR, Duluth, MN
- Charter #69742
- Gold Humanism Honor Society – Duluth
- 1035 University Dr, Duluth, MN
- Charter #141605
- Abby Evans #165874
- 31 West College Street, Duluth, MN
- Charter #165874
- David Harper #146355
- 1805 Vermilion Rd, Duluth, MN
- Charter #146355
- Michelle’s Library
- 1825 Wallace Ave, Duluth, MN
- Charter #17094
- Christine Valento #97279
- 329 Snively Road, Duluth, MN
- Charter #97279
- Rachel Mason #9119
- 2236 Vermilion Road, Duluth, MN
- Charter #9119
- Patrick Sharp #13950
- 2430 Roslyn Ave, Duluth, MN
- Charter #13950
- GamFamSix
- 2320 Wilkyns Ave, Duluth, MN
- Charter #75058
- Reece Patten
- 817 Valley Dr, Duluth, MN
- Charter #31093
- #141838 Duluth MN
- 712 Jill St, Duluth, MN
- Charter #141838
- The Cabin
- 2525 E. 3rd St, Duluth, MN
- Charter #100272
- #92569 Duluth MN
- 2519 Jefferson St, Duluth, MN
- Charter #92569
- Center For Indigenous Health – Great Lakes Hub
- 1915 South Street, Duluth, MN
- Charter #173257
- The Book Coop
- 21 S 20Th Ave E, Duluth, MN
- Charter #149921
- Les Chateaux
- 3820 London Rd, Duluth, MN
- Charter #77920
- Cathy Wood #4789
- 3700 E. Superior Street, Duluth, MN
- Charter #4789
- 525 Little Library
- 525 N Old Howard Mill Road, Duluth, MN
- Charter #126069
- Sandy Popham
- 3531 East 4th Street, Duluth, MN
- Charter #9641
- Carol Hesch
- 3854 E Superior St, Duluth, MN
- Charter #15164
- Luverne Street Library
- 4305 Luverne St, Duluth, MN
- Charter #2220
- Laura Dahleen #24111
- 4201 Gilliat Street, Duluth, MN
- Charter #24111
- Janelle W
- 4705 REGENT ST, DULUTH, MN
- Charter #156441
- Eddy Gilmore #7632
- 4110 McCulloch St, Duluth, MN
- Charter #7632
- Suzanne Rauvola #17789
- 4124 Cooke St, Duluth, MN
- Charter #17789
- JOETTA SNOW #328
- 4005 Dodge St., Duluth, MN
- Charter #328
- Henrietta’s Inclusive LFL
- 4429 Gladstone Street, Duluth, MN
- Charter #105769
- Duluth MN Little Library at Jay & 50th
- 4931 Jay Street, Duluth, MN
- Charter #90008
- Jenna Harting #50932
- 1127 North 49th Ave East, Duluth, MN
- Charter #50932
- Lakeside Little Library
- 5102 Wyoming Street, Duluth, MN
- Charter #169823
- Corrie Ehrbright
- 6010 Avondale Street, Duluth, MN
- Charter #1123
- Beth Hewes #32144
- 1308 N 54th Ave E, Duluth, MN
- Charter #32144
- Little Red Cottage Library
- 5308 Broadwing Drive, Duluth, MN
- Charter #20382
Just in those few cities, there are TONS of Little Free Libraries that are ready to be explored and prepared to have your books placed in them. You can create a whole dawdling adventure made entirely of discovering, giving, and receiving from Little Free Libraries!
Create Your Own: Little Free Library Requirements
If all of this knowledge and passion for Little Free Libraries has you fired up with ideas for your own Little Free Library, you’re not alone! Although there are over 150,000 Little Free Libraries across the world, there are never too many free books to go around!
The next question is, of course, what are the Little Free Library requirements, and how do you get things started?
There are so many awesome resources right on the Little Free Library website, and I highly recommend taking a peek for yourself and watching the short informational video that I’ll link below that walks you through the Little Free Library requirements.
But for now, I’ll list out a basic outline that the Little Free Library website has listed. Whether you prefer to buy an already-made Little Free Library or build your own Free Little Library, this is exciting stuff!
- Establish the location of your Little Free Library and who will be the caretaker of the library.
- Build/buy your Little Free Library!
- Once you have your Little Free Library it’s time to register it, which can be done by purchasing a charter sign through the Little Free Library organization. A charter sign is a plaque that you see on Little Free Libraries that states the name of the organization and the charter number for that specific library. It’s sort of like the Little Free Library’s social security number.
- After you have your charter sign and your Little Free Library is established, you can then set up your ‘Steward Account, ‘ which can be done through the Little Free Library app or the Steward Web Portal on the Little Free Library website.
- Spread the word about your Little Free Library to help it gain some traction or even get your local media coverage involved; this is an exciting day!
This is a brief overview of the steps you can take to establish Little Free Libraries, there’s lots of good details to gain from checking out their website and giving it a read. It’ll fill you with a firey passion for books and Little Free Libraries!
I don’t know about you, but I’ve got some big dreams for Little Free Libraries and I hope that bookish passion travels through and we see even more Little Free Libraries surround our areas and bring even more books to our communities on Lake Superior.
Please be sure to share your support and follow Little Free Libraries on Instagram and Facebook, and while you’re over there, consider joining our Loving Life On Lake Superior Facebook group, we’d love to see you there!
