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Home > Lifestyle, Hobbies and Home > Handicrafts, decorative arts and crafts > Decorative woodwork > How to Build Your Very Own Little Free Library: 11 Mini Structures You Can Build
How to Build Your Very Own Little Free Library: 11 Mini Structures You Can Build

How to Build Your Very Own Little Free Library: 11 Mini Structures You Can Build


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About the Book

Expand the book-sharing movement to your community with How to Build Your Very Own Little Free Library-your photo-illustrated, inspirational source for building tiny sharing libraries.

Around the world, a community movement is underway featuring quaint landscape structures mounted on posts in front yards and other green spaces, as well as supported in large pots and other vessels outside homes and businesses on busy urban streets. They are evidence of the growing trend toward neighborhood organization, community outreach, and in some cases, a quiet protest against book bans.

This movement has been popularized by Minnesota-based Little Free Library (LFL), whose members currently include 200,000 library stewards around the world who seek to build community togetherness and promote reading by sharing books among neighbors. LFL has inspired builders to use similar structures to share things like CDs, food, and seeds in the community.

Produced in cooperation with the Little Free Library nonprofit organization and authored by professional carpenter Phil Schmidt, How to Build Your Very Own Little Free Library is the builder's complete source of inspiration and how-to knowledge. This newly updated, information-packed guide features:

A how-to for planning and designing your little sharing structureAn overview of building materials and tools11 complete plans for structures of varying sizes and aestheticsStep-by-step color photography and instructionsA gallery of tiny structures, along with uplifting words from stewards, for further inspirationInformation on proper installation of the small structuresCommon repairs and maintenance for down the roadTimely information on how LFL has become part of the growing movement against book bans
How to Build Your Very Own Little Free Library even includes information on how to become an official library steward, getting the word out about your little structure once it's up and running, and tips for building a lively collection. Also included are QR codes for additional building videos as well as interactive maps for locating other LFLs near you-or wherever you may travel!

Community togetherness has never been so much at the fore of our consciousness-or so important. How to Build Your Very Own Little Free Library is one tool on the road to helping you build community in your neighborhood.

Table of Contents:
Foreword
Introduction
1: Planning and Design
     What Will Your Structure Do?
     Location, Permission & Other Considerations
     Buy, Find, Assemble, or Build Your Own?   
     Ideas for Adding Curb Appeal
2: Building Basics
     Good Materials for Little Structures
     Mother Nature (Preparing for Foul Weather)
     Helpful Tools & Techniques
     Painting & Staining
3: Project Plans
     One-Story Shed Kit
     Mini Shed
     Rustic Shed
     Flower Box
     Two-Story Shed
     Modern Two-Story
     Tobacco Barn
     Cedar Roof Basic
     First Little Free Library
     Give Box
     Kitchen Cabinet Upcycle
4: Installing Your Structure
     Post Mounting
     Straightening a Leaning Pot
     Hanging from Trees & Fences
     Freestanding Structures
5: Why Start a Little Free Library?
     Getting the Word Out About Your Library
     Encouraging Community Involvement
     Tips for a Lively Collection
     How to Register Your Library
6: A Mission to Combat Book Bans
Gallery: Little Free Libraries Around the World




About the Author :
Philip Schmidt is a writer, editor, and project designer specializing in houses and everything we do with them. A former carpenter, he is the author of more than two dozen books covering subjects from solar power to backyard treehouses to DIY plywood furniture, including How to Build Your Very Own Little Free Library, The Complete Guide to Treehouses, PlyDesign, The Complete Guide to Patios, and Install Your Own Solar Panels. He lives in Colorado.

Review :

“This is a beneficial resource for book lovers and neighborhood organizers alike.”  --Publishers Weekly

"The guide offers step-by-step instructions for building 11 free-standing structures, ranging from simple single-shelf boxes to multi-story cabinets. This is a beneficial resource for book lovers and neighborhood organizers alike."

"The Little Free Library organization...together with author Phillip Schmidt, have put together this how-to encompassing all the instructions, tools, and materials for building 11 houses, including the two-story shed kit sold by the Little Free Library organization and a little library made from an upcycled kitchen cabinet. Helpful sidebars make all the difference here, on everything from sizing for books, forestalling Mother Nature, and paint differentiations (acrylic versus latex) to any number of watch-outs, like working with sheet metals and choosing doors with or without rabbets."

"Perfect for parents, grandparents, educators, and anyone looking for a fun and educational DIY woodworking project, this guide blends hands-on creativity with literacy promotion. Whether you’re looking for a rainy-day activity with the kids or a weekend project that gives back, this book delivers."

"The author does a fantastic job making the entire process approachable, from planning to finding materials and determining which design is best for your household’s needs."


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Product Details
  • ISBN-13: 9780760398821
  • Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc
  • Publisher Imprint: Cool Springs Press
  • Edition: Revised edition
  • Language: English
  • Returnable: Y
  • Weight: 740 gr
  • ISBN-10: 0760398828
  • Publisher Date: 04 Sep 2025
  • Binding: Paperback
  • Height: 270 mm
  • No of Pages: 176
  • Sub Title: 11 Mini Structures You Can Build
  • Width: 210 mm


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