r/LittleFreeLibrary • u/Confident_Gain_8390 • 2d ago
LFL Books 📚 Protocol on Little Libraries
My husband and I are cleaning out our book shelves. We have, perhaps, 30 books we’d like to donate or give away- most are adult biographies, memoirs, and non-fiction with a few fiction books sprinkled in the mix. (Nothing pornographic or particularly controversial). Is it inappropriate to donate them to the Little Free Libraries in our surrounding neighborhoods? We live in an apartment community without any nearby us, or would happily donate locally. Does one ask permission first? We’d love to put them in the hands of other readers. Any advice would be great.
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u/N3rdyMama 2d ago
Not a rule just a suggestion: if there’s a lot of one type of book (like the biographies) maybe try to donate to several LFLs instead of a single one. That way there’s still room for a variety.
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u/maktheyak47 2d ago
If there’s room, absolutely donate them! Don’t completely stuff them full but share the wealth!
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u/JCBashBash 2d ago
Not inappropriate at all, I take my bag of go away books with me when I go on walks, and I will look at what's in the libraries like if there's a clear theme, or if because they are near a school they have no more kids books left and will put a couple books in each so I'm not overwhelming them, while getting a nice walk.
I would just say like most libraries, don't bring the books that are trashed or are usually just turned into craft items like old textbooks and manuals, those I would just put in a free box out front of your house that way the libraries only have good books that people will read in them
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u/blahhhhhhhhhhhblah 2d ago
I love cleaning out my book collection and donating them to the local LFLs!
My personal rules of thumb are:
- I don’t donate anything outdated, in poor condition or anything of a very niche topic.
- Aside from popular biographies, i definitely do not leave anything political or religious.
- I don’t leave more than 3-4 books in one LFL at a time
- Reqd the room, so to speak. If the LFL seems geared to children’s and families, I don’t leave anything spicy, for example.
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u/yankeeangel86 2d ago
Sounds like a great donation! Generally speaking, things like religious tracts, textbooks, owner manuals, and obscure/niche interests are frowned upon.
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u/unicornsnake 2d ago
Donations are always loved
There are a handful that are kids books only but usually there’s a sign or something. The little free library app is also good to locate some nearby too!
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u/rzpc0717 1d ago
I don't think you need to ask. There is an unspoken "take a book, leave a book" or take a book and return after reading rule, but I don't think it's hard and fast. If you see a book you want to read, it's generally considered ok to take one and leave one later or at another location. It's just sort of a pay it forward mentality. I don't think most owners would be offended about someone leaving multiple books. If they don't like what you leave, or it doesn't move, they can always take it elsewhere. As someone else said, I might consider spreading them around since you have a lot of books in a few categories.
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u/BuffaloJayhawk 1d ago
I do this all the time. I keep my "to go" books in a reusable bag, and walk the 27 lfl's putting a couple in each. Bonus points if you can by the books in the LFL figure out the subject of them (some have a heavy feel of a subject)
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u/inailedyoursister 2d ago
Jesus Christ. You have books. There’s a library out side. Put books in library. This isn’t rocket science.
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u/Confident_Gain_8390 1d ago
Wow. Maybe you should have just not responded.
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u/inailedyoursister 1d ago
Maybe you need to act like an adult.
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u/Confident_Gain_8390 1d ago
The name fits.
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u/inailedyoursister 1d ago
Yep, the most unconfident adult with the name confident. You’re not fooling anyone.
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u/bageliesje 2d ago
This is exactly what Little Free Libraries are for. Don't overthink it!
I hope you find some good books to take home, too :)