What Would You Include in Your Own Library?

近年来，各种免费图书馆出现在美国的大街小巷，让更多的人学会分享自己的书，同时免费阅读更多的书。你想拥有自己的图书馆吗？赶快行动吧！ In recent years, little libraries of all shapes and sizes have been found anywhere in America. They might be found on the street corners or sidewalks. Often built by community members, hoping to share their book collection with their neighbors, these little free libraries are like a modern bookmobile. Minneapolis held the first Little Free Library Festival. Book fans and people with a do-it-yourself streak came together. They helped more people read books freely in their communities. For the most part, little free libraries have more in common with book-sharing shelves in hostels, coffee shops and other public spaces than the traditional public libraries. Based on a philosophy of “take a book, leave a book”, these libraries can take many forms. They include birdhouse-like wooden structures to repurposed newspaper vending machines. The little free library organization began in 2009. A man of Hudson, Wisconsin, named Todd Bol built a little model of a one-room school-house. He filled it with books. Then he put it in his front yard. Together with a local educator named Rick Brooks, he began installing little free libraries across Wisconsin. They shared the idea with people across the country. According to their website, there were at least 400 little free libraries by 2011. “Something we long for in this digital age is that connection among people,” said Bol. “I want to show how little free libraries are inspiring readers. It goes on and on.” Little free libraries have been welcomed by their communities. For anyone interested in making their own at home, the organization has posted helpful tips and guides for building and installing the little book lending boxes.