In Defense of Little Free Libraries

DISCLAIMER:

All writing and art created by Lucas Scheelk / Sa’ar Keshet is 100% human-made, and does NOT use generative AI or ChatGPT.

This page does NOT endorse generative AI or ChatGPT.

Any writing and/or art created by Lucas Scheelk / Sa’ar Keshet may NOT be used for generative AI or ChatGPT, and permission will NOT be given for that purpose.

WHAT ARE LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES?

Little Free Libraries are outdoor displays that house books, free and available to the public 24/7/365. These displays are taken care of by stewards, who can be anyone. While there is an unwritten model of “take a book, leave a book,” there’s no policing over the usage of Little Free Libraries.

The Little Free Library nonprofit was founded in 2009 by Todd H. Bol in Hudson, Wisconsin. He made a “library-on-a-stick” in tribute to his mother, June.

Now, in 2025, there’s over 200,000 “libraries-on-a-stick” in over 128 countries (& counting).

Programs that the Little Free Library nonprofit utilizes: Read In Color, the Impact Library, and the Indigenous Library.

Cousins to Little Free Libraries include, but are not limited to: Little Free Pantries; Seed Libraries; Free Poetry Boxes; Little Free Art Galleries; Mug Exchanges; Worldwide Sidewalk of Joy; etc.

WHY LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES?

My special interest with Little Free Libraries began in the summer of 2023, during my last (but not first) experience with homelessness. I am thankfully housed at this point in time.

While I was homeless, the majority of my belongings were in storage, including my books, so my access to literature was restricted.

In between doing temp work to make money (and also have guaranteed access to a bathroom), I needed something to keep interest in living/surviving my situation.

I fell in love with Little Free Libraries.

Some of my practice work with book-spine poetry came from exploring LFL displays. The unpredictability of available books was (& still is) exciting.

INACCESSIBILITY AT LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES

While Little Free Libraries does a fine job in providing free access to books for the general public, there are points of inaccessibility at individual displays that I’ve encountered as a poet-on-the-ground:

• Little Free Library displays that are indoors, and are restricted by building hours

• “You’re on Candid Camera” sign next to a display aka policing existence (the only time I am thankful of a Little Free Library display now closed is in this specific case)

• Returning books being a requirement

• Displays without a latching door to protect books from the elements

• Lack of roads and/or sidewalks accessible to pedestrians, cane users, wheelchair users, people with mobility aids, families with strollers, etc.

• Lack of public transportation nearby

• Xtian proselytizing books (such literature makes the space unsafe for people with xtian religious trauma, and it makes people who practice other religions or no religion feel unwelcome; I have personally witnessed this pattern of xtian proselytizing literature distributed in neighborhoods with high rates of homelessness)

COMMUNITY CARE & COMPASSION

Some of the ways that stewards and patrons of Little Free Libraries practice community care:

• Removing xtian proselytizing literature from displays

• Purchasing banned books from thrift stores to donate to Little Free Libraries

• Collaborating with public libraries to donate weeded books

• Writers & artists donating their own works

• Encouraging others on social media (such as TikTok) to visit their local Little Free Library, alongside visiting their public libraries, and overall promoting literacy for all populations

• Decorating LFL displays that reflects the diversity of their communities

• Adding a side attachment to the LFL display to distribute survival items such as Narcan/Naloxone, menstrual products, etc.

In the past, I have donated copies of my third poetry book, “A Prayer For A Non-Religious Autistic,” as well as art cards of some of my shorter poems, and individually-packaged KN95/N95 masks at Little Free Libraries.

Poetry (& art) is for everyone.

Regarding donating KN95/N95 masks - during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we keep us safe.

A CALL TO YOU, LITERARY CITIZENS

If you’ve ever been ostracized from reading or prevented from accessing books, then you already know the pain and trauma that causes.

You or someone you know may: reside in a book desert, not have (public or any) transportation, be homeless, have restricted access to their own books, be incarcerated, not have access to books in their reading level, not have access to books in their language(s), work closing/third/night shifts outside of public library hours, etc. - to name a few situations.

There are many ways to become a literary citizen.

If finances allow - consider becoming a steward of your own Little Free Library, and use this page as a guide to make the space accessible to your entire community.

If you’re unable, then simply visiting your local Little Free Library is helpful. Tell your friends, family, and neighbors that there is a way to access books for free at any time. There is a map which shows where there are Little Free Library displays.

Fight book bans wherever you encounter it.

Take cues from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Donate or sign up to volunteer for the Books to Prisoners program.

Become a patron of your public library. Ask your local librarian if their branch collaborates with Little Free Libraries, or similar book donation services.

Make a request at your public library for popular books in languages outside of English. Think of your favorite book growing up, and request that in a different language as well.

Donate your magazines to MagLiteracy to foster literacy in underserved communities.

For fellow writers & poets & artists - donate copies of your work to Little Free Libraries.

This is just a small sample of ways to be a literary citizen, with a universe of opportunities to brainstorm and create space for all.

Reading is for everyone.

ABOUT THE POET

Lucas Scheelk (they/them) is an autistic nonbinary poet and artist; they’re an antizionist Jew who’s part of the Irish-diaspora.

[pronounced shh-elk - like you’re telling an elk to shh]

While it’s cool to note that Scheelk is a Pushcart Prize nominated poet, they’re a poet because it’s their promise to stay alive.

To read more of Scheelk’s work:

• Golem and the Librarian

• This Is A Clothespin

• The Full Body Project

• trans people gather for a name reveal party and play Apples to Apples except all the cards are fill-in-the-blank

• PALESTINIANS ARE HUMAN BEINGS, B’TZELEM ELOHIM

SIGNAL BOOST

1. Autistic People of Color Fund

2. Keep Hope Alive: Gaza Giving Circle

3. Worldwide Mask Bloc Directory

4. Crips for eSims for Gaza

5. The Sameer Project

6. Black Trans Academic Targeted and Fined for Pro-Palestine Speech

7. Lifeline 4 Gaza

8. Workshops 4 Gaza