Little Free Libraries In Hillsboro Push Past 100 With Community Leadership

We have all seen those super interesting and cute little structures placed along the front of properties throughout our communities.  And they come in every form and shape.  I have seen them as little A-frame cupboards,  tiny homes that replicate the home they sit in front of, and even an English red phone booth.  By now, we all can recognize Little Free Libraries.

The movement started a long while back and now has taken off worldwide.  Little Free Library-Take A Book.  Share A Book is the website where you can learn more.  As the organization heads for 200,000 Libraries, 122 Countries involved, and hundreds of millions of free books given out, it is very important to review why these community stops are so important and powerful.

Why Does Book Access Matter?

We are facing a growing literacy crisis. Today in the United States, more than 30 million adults cannot read or write above a third-grade level. Studies have repeatedly shown that books in the hands of children have a meaningful impact on improving literacy. The more books in or near the home, the more likely a child will learn and love to read. 61% of U.S. children living at or below the poverty line have no books at home.

Little Free Library book-sharing boxes play an essential role by providing 24/7 access to books (and encouraging a love of reading!) in areas where books are scarce. At the Little Free Library nonprofit, we’re working to fill book deserts and grant libraries to underserved communities through our Impact Library Program and other initiatives.

Through Little Free Library book exchanges, millions of books are exchanged each year, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds.

From the Website- https://littlefreelibrary.org/about/

OK, a small idea has become something huge. Books contain ideas, thoughts, and free speech—you know, those things that our country was founded upon but that we find ourselves collectively struggling to maintain.  They contain stories of lives lived, struggles overcome, and the human condition and provide both connection and solace to the reader.  They spark learning and reflection and all things positive.  They make us think for ourselves in an age where we are fed by a screen on how to exist.  These little idea havens, these magic cupboards, are one of the most powerful things in the world.

Hillsboro, Oregon, has well past 100 Little Free Libraries. Some are chartered by the organization and have an ID #, and others are unregistered. As our citizens have engaged in this movement, a new need has arisen to understand where they all are and to tell the stories of those who are putting them up.  Long-time Hillsboro resident Annette Cornish started a Facebook Page to inform Hillsboroites about them and honor those doing the work.  You can find that online community right here- https://www.facebook.com/groups/1782363988591534.  Annette is a friend and one of those people who changes the world around her for the better.  So does her friend Robin Mann, who put up a library some years ago in front of her home at 360 NE 3rd Avenue in old town.  The two of them have worked together to keep the FB Page rolling and to document those that are coming into the family.

Cornish shared her thoughts with us.

I started the FB group page where Robin has now mapped most of the libraries in Hillsboro. Robin had the first little library on 3rd Avenue, my library was 2nd, I believe. It got A LOT of visitors when I lived on 3rd. I really never had to restock it as folks would take books and replace with new, interesting titles. Sadly, where I am now my library isn’t visited much. I have to give credit to my friends Pat & Deirdre Ruark who built, painted & “planted” my library for me. They did a fantastic job on it.

Annette has moved from 3rd Avenue to her Mother’s place on the edge of town. Sharon, her Mother, was a longtime activist in Hillsboro and known for having a sharp tongue with City Hall—she was both beloved and feared.  Annette has a softer approach and is always looking to help others.

Mann Makes Her Move

Realizing that the proliferation of the tiny book vaults was creating an opportunity, but many existed relatively unknown, Robin turned to the power of Google Maps and created a Map to guide our community members to each one.  Now that map is lit up like a Christmas Tree and is an incredible resource for those looking for books and more.  Here is an embed of the map:

You can link to the map here-
Using this resource, people can visit as many libraries as they like; some have poetry, food, water, dog biscuits, lights, wishing spots, and comment boxes.  All have books.  All are magical.  All build community.

When I installed a Little Free Library in front of my home in October 2013, it was the only one in Hillsboro. The charter number assigned was #10037. Worldwide there are now close to 200,000. The most recent chartered library in Hillsboro is #184540! A registered Little Free Library has an official charter sign and number and can be displayed on the world map.

We have 100 known little libraries in Hillsboro – about 40 are registered (thru https://littlefreelibrary.org/). Nine are Tiny Branch Libraries installed and maintained by the Hillsboro Public Library with various volunteers responsible for a single tiny branch. There are about 50 independent (unregistered) little libraries. All are looked after by dedicated stewards – members of the community who are committed to encouraging Hillsboro to be a book sharing community.

Annette Cornish set up the Little Free Libraries – Hillsboro, OR Facebook group in 2021. After a couple of years of people posting “sightings”, someone asked if we had a list or map. Only registered libraries show up on the world map. I began to make a list and John Haide suggested I make a map, which at first seemed a bit daunting. But Google Maps to the rescue!

Many keen-eyed community members began helping to identify the little libraries in their Hillsboro neighborhoods. They’d post pictures with addresses, or send the info to me, and I’d add them to the map. This effort definitely “takes a village”.

What amazes me the most is the generous donations of books. I am messaged almost weekly by individuals who have books to donate to the little libraries. We’ll post about these donations on the Facebook group and the books are shared with the stewards who who might need them to stock their little library. There are always more than enough to go around.

Her favorite part of all of this?

The basic premise is to take a book and leave a book (participants can do either/or). It’s folks sharing with each other, whether they know each other or not.  To me, book sharing says, “I care about you and your family. Let’s be friends.”

This creative and organic rise of books, people, community, and little shrines to the written word is particularly inspiring.  As people look to the government to provide for everything in their daily lives, something personal and of the people has a particular appeal.

In Old Orenco, where I live, we have a few LFL stops.  One of my favorites is one of the newer builds, which was installed by Simone Campbell and her partner.  It has sections, and many of the books left have notations left by the donator, with great thoughts and notes left by the donator, who is an avid and voracious reader.  This is a really cool stop and has something for everyone- kids too!

Enjoy these LFL stops, and tell us about your favorites in the comments section below!  Thanks to everyone making this amazing movement happen for the people of Hillsboro.  One of those things that really make Hillsboro a great place to call home!