It must have happened to all of us... walking in a city and coming across some small cute little shelves, on top of which we can find plenty of books just waiting to be chosen by the bookworm who will be intrigued by them. This post wants to be a celebration of this wonderful project, hoping for it to expand more and more.
The name of these hidden gems is "Little Free Library" and it dates back to 2009; the idea came to life in the US, thanks to Todd Bol, the creator of the first book-box. The purpose of this project was to promote bookcrossing and reading, trying to make books more accessible to everybody. People appreciated this small gesture so much, that now these little libraries can be found everywhere in the world: from Rome to Berlin, from Amsterdam to Reykjavik, and so many more cities. On the website littlefreelibrary.org, it is possible to find instructions on how to start a new free library, which can then be registered on the website in order to become part of the worldwide community.
Personally, I am a big supporter of this trend, as I think it brings such a positive impact to the city and its people. Culture needs to be shared, and something as simple as a small box filled with books can be such a powerful tool. Every time I come across a Little Free Library it literally fills my heart with joy, as in my opinion there is nothing negative that can be said about them. As always, positivity attracts positivity, and this can be seen in the attitude of people, that facing something so beautiful, can only answer with more beauty and respect; in fact, never have I seen one of these Little Free Libraries treated disrespectfully.
As a bookworm, I can't help but promote this project, hoping to see it gaining the notoriety that it deserves.