5 Year Update of Our Little Library
Five Years (and Counting) with Our Little Library
It’s hard to believe it’s been over five years since we built our Little Library.
We ordered the official plaque, registered it on the LittleFreeLibrary.org map, and placed it in our yard with all the excitement in the world. I remember the first time someone stopped by… I peeked out the window to see what would happen!
All these years later, the library still stands strong. The paint has faded a little, and I’ve replaced the hinge once, but it’s held up beautifully through Indiana winters and summer storms. The box itself? Still solid and still used.
The Good, the Real, and the Lessons Learned
People still come and go, trading books at their own pace. We’ve had everything from mystery novels and board books to cookbooks and old National Geographics. We even had an instruction manual to microwave. Because others add to the library, I do have to regularly go check it to make sure everything is ok. At least once, if not twice a week, I…
- check to make sure there are books and that the box is tidy
- overlook the box to make sure there is nothing needing fixed
- take any new books in to be wiped down and stamped with our Little Library stamp (This deters people from selling the books to used book stores)
- add any books that might be needed
- take out anything inappropriate or “junk” (like the instruction manual or any book that might be destroyed)
In general, we’ve not had many problems with anything gross, destroyed or inappropriate. Most books are totally useable and relevant a few are loved but still good. There have been only a couple really rough or irrelevant items (like the manual).
Of course, not everything has been picture-perfect.
One summer, a boy around ten or twelve tore up a few books and scribbled some choice words in the margins. I happened to catch him there, hovering longer than usual. Instead of yelling, I waited until he left, then walked down the street to his grandmother’s house to let her know. She was mortified and kind, and it never happened again.
Another time, someone took nearly every book in one visit. I restocked and moved on. That’s part of the territory, and honestly, I’d rather have too much interest than none at all. This is however, why we got a stamp. None of the book stores that have a resell business, will buy books stamped from Little Libraries.
The Geocache Experiment at Our Little Library
A couple of years in, I decided to make things more fun by adding a small geocache. It was a hit… at first. People loved leaving and finding tiny treasures tucked next to the books. But after a while, kids started dumping the cache contents onto the ground or taking the trinkets without logging the find.
Eventually, I took the geocache down. I still love the idea, and maybe someday I’ll add it back in a new way, maybe with as an add-on to the library, instead of in it.
What I’ve Learned from Five Years of Sharing
-
People surprise you. Most are kind, curious, and respectful.
-
A library doesn’t need to be fancy. Ours is simple, but it’s lasted.
-
Small things grow roots. This tiny box became a real part of our neighborhood story.
If you’ve been thinking about starting your own Little Free Library… don’t overthink the paint or the perfection. Just put up a box, fill it with books, and see what happens. You might be amazed at how something so small can quietly connect people.
📚 Want to Keep the Little Library Love Going?
✅ See where it all started → our original Little Free Library build + story
✅ Browse our most-traded books → my reader-approved favorites list (the ones that always disappear first!)
✅ Visit my printable shop → ABlueEyedMamasShop on Etsy — every purchase helps restock our Little Library with new titles
✅Save this post → pin it for later on Pinterest
We love our Little Library! I’d love to hear which books you’d recommend. Do you already have one in your neighborhood? What kinds of books disappear fastest? Comment below or tag me, I’d love to see your libraries and favorite finds!
📷 Tag @bemandfam on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest. Let’s keep spreading stories, one book at a time.
BEM and Fam 🙂
