We Are Making A Library!

We are are opening a Little Free Library!

This is the secret project I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, something I have been dreaming on, plotting and planning about for months. I can't believe it's almost time for our grand opening!

Do you have a Little Free Library in your neighborhood? They're darling and smart, a terrific idea begun in 2009, by Todd Bol. He's in Hudson, Wisconsin. I love Wisconsin.

Little Free Library has a good website, with a blog, and their history is really inspiring. I love that they achieved their goal to build 2,510 Little Free Libraries—as many as Andrew Carnegie—and keep going, in just two years! Since 2010 they have registered nearly 15,000 libraries, and they're growing!

As soon as I learned about them, I was smitten with the idea of them... I love the idea of encouraging literacy and building community, of sharing resources. Immediately I began learning all I could, even collecting ideas and more inspiration on a Pinterest Board.

I may, just may, be a teeny bit of a packrat collector! I actually had a small wood cabinet I picked up at the thrift store last year. I thought it would be a good piece for storing things in the barn, and I brought it home to spruce up some day. Once the Library scheme was firmly rooted in my brain I saw that little cabinet in a whole new light, and I told everyone here in the Bird House about my vision. I was so sure it could be done, but only with everyone helping.

So. I removed the hardware, and scrubbed the cabinet.

I took all all those blue paint samples we were testing for the house, and poured them into a yogurt tub, so I could paint the cabinet.

Maria came to help with the painting.

And while we painted, Alex cut framing and boards for a roof.

Next, I asked William if he could please cut out the wood sections of the paneled door.

Then I sanded the cut-outs.

Max cut aluminum plated so we could use them as mounting brackets. The Little Free Library will be set on it's post this Sunday!

Geoff decided to reinforce the floor of the cabinet. It's solid, now!

By now, it was Mother's Day, and besides a beach walk, all I asked for my day was to see more progress on our Library, and I got just that.

This part of the re-model really impressed me. Geoff cut this trim with a bevel so it could hold the glass pane.

Not just a good idea, but pretty, and well done, too. Geoff really made my vision even more special. Everyone did.

Maria and I have been collecting books, and we have all kinds of ideas about seasonal themes, and we hope to include Maker Club events as part of our library experience. By Sunday, I need to paint some signs, design and print book labels, make some lemonade for our neighbors and friends, and get ready to celebrate!