A Little Free Library is a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange. Anyone may take a book or bring a book to share — with an understanding that real people are sharing their favorite books with their community.
📚 Books to donate?
Drop them off at the porch of the stewards’ house behind the library. We’ll add them to the inventory with many thanks. For more information, see Donate.
History
The Little Free Library movement started in 2009 when Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a model of a one-room schoolhouse, filled it with books and mounted it on a post on his lawn. It was a tribute to his mother who was a book lover and school teacher.
Soon, the idea took off. Today there are nearly 40,000 Little Free Library book exchanges around the world.
More information
- Web: LittleFreeLibrary.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/LittleFreeLibrary
- Twitter: @LtlFreeLibrary
- Instagram: @littlefreelibrary
Building a book-sharing box? Get plans and tips for Little Free Library builders.
News on Portland and Oregon Little Free Libraries
- Columbia Gorge News: Little Libraries Contest encourages reading in your community (09/23/2025)
- KOIN.com: LGBTQ-themed free library wagon hopes to spread ‘queer joy’ for Portland Pride Parade (06/22/2025)
- Columbia Gorge News: News boxes become little libraries (11/04/2024)
- Apartment Therapy: There is a super-tiny Little Free Library in Portland, and it’s so cute (9/20/2023)
- KPTV: Les Schwab Surprise Squad helps out Little Free Library hit by thief (2/22/2023)
- Hermiston Herald: Community freshens up Hermiston’s Little Free Libraries (1/5/2023)
- Salem Reporter: New Little Free Library at Willamette Heritage Center offers books, crafts (11/8/2023)
- KATU.com: Positive Charge! PDX & Little Free Library Partner to Increase Inclusion (11/4/2022)
- KOBI5.com: Medford adds more little free libraries in parks (10/3/2022)
- KEZI.com: Roseburg parks to get tiny free libraries (8/26/2022)
- KOIN.com: ‘Reading in color’: Little free libraries appear in Portland (7/9/2021)
- Portland State University: Spatial Politics and Literacy: An Analysis of Little Free Libraries and Neighborhood Distribution of Book-Sharing Depositories in Portland, Oregon and Detroit, Michigan (6/2020)
- OregonLive.com: Little free libraries offer solace amid coronavirus shutdowns (5/18/2020)
- Portland Tribune: Little Free Libraries connect people, promote literacy (3/4/2016)
- Southern Oregon Journal: Southern Oregon Journal: A special lady and her little free library (11/15/2015)
- MySouthLane.com: Little Free Libraries in South Lane County (11/8/2015)
- Statesmen Journal: Donations pour in for Little Free Libraries (8/2/2015)
- SW Oregon Architect: Eugene’s Little Free Libraries (5/31/2015)
- Cascade Business News: Little Free Libraries. Who Knew? (4/1/2015)
- Ashland Daily Tidings: ‘Little Free Libraries’ pop up in Ashland (10/8/2014)
- SalemIs.org: Salem’s Little Free Libraries (8/31/2014)
- NewsLincolnCounty.com: Little Free Libraries begin popping up around Lincoln County (8/26/2014)
- Video: DYI Little Free Library How To Portland, Oregon – Green Lents (9/23/2013)
- Portland Radio Project: Give and Take at the Little Free Library (9/21/2013)
- KATU: ‘Little Free Library’ movement arrives in Gresham (3/13/2013)
- OregonLive.com: ‘Little Free Library’ comes to Lake Oswego’s Old Town neighborhood (1/4/2013)
- Albany Democrat-Herald: Lending through little libraries (8/12/2012)
- OregonLive.com: Portland book lovers nurture neighborhood camaraderie with mini libraries (12/21/2011)
Find more news stories on the Little Free Library blog.