How to Build Your Very Own Little Free Library

11 Mini Structures You Can Build

Little Free Library, Philip Schmidt

$45

Paperback

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English

Cool Springs Press
07 October 2025

Decorative wood & metalwork; DIY: carpentry & woodworking; Home renovation & extension

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.

By: Little Free Library, Philip Schmidt
Imprint: Cool Springs Press
Country of Publication: United States [Currently unable to ship to USA: see Shipping Info]
Edition: Revised Edition
Dimensions: Height: 270mm, Width: 210mm,
Weight: 671g
ISBN: 9780760398821
ISBN 10: 0760398828
Pages: 176
Publication Date: 07 October 2025
Recommended Age: From 0 to 99 years
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

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.

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

""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."" -- Barbara Jacobs * Booklist * ""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."" -- Tony Medeiros * Sandbox World * ""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."" -- Susan Bewley * Hobbies on a Budget *