If you recall, we covered the Little Free Library located at 32 Prince Street (pictured above). We recently went to check out the nine other
Little Free Libraries that have popped up around Manhattan.These libraries run on the good will of the people. Started in Wisconsin in 2009, they currently have over 5,000 locations in the country and worldwide. This project was brought to NYC through the PEN World Voices Festival and the Architectural League of New York. They come to the city as part of many exhibits in the IDEAS City Festival, and will be open until September 1, 2013 when they will each be evaluated for their longevity. As you can see in the photos below, many of the locations unfortunately suffer from barren bookshelves.
No lines, no cards; visitors are free to peruse the collection of available books, as well as leave their own reads, on the community shelf with two rules: “Take a book, Return a book.” (Coincidentally, you can find a copy of my chapbook at all the above locations.) It would seem that the project works best in a setting like the ones at Prince Street, NYU, and Extra Place. A small public area with available seating. Local Wi-Fi would be a major draw as well!
The Architectural League has put together a video interviewing some of those responsible for bringing about Little Free Library/NYC, including some of the talented designers and urban developers responsible for building each individual library bookshelf.
