Little Free Library Spotlight: My Little House

By Emily Whalen, Finance Manager, KDL

Even before working at Kent District Library, Little Free Libraries always caught my eye. I loved the variety of designs and the way they felt so welcoming to anyone passing by.

When I bought my house in Rockford, I quickly noticed something missing on our busy street - there weren’t any Little Free Libraries nearby, even though we’re just a block from an elementary school. Our corner sees a lot of runners, dog walkers, kids and even a school bus stop, so I knew it would be the perfect spot to add one.

Our local police officer, Jason Bradley, has built and installed Little Free Libraries throughout downtown Rockford, and I knew he could help make ours something special. When he came over, we talked about the location and how I wanted it to look like a miniature version of our house (just smaller, of course). I also made sure it would be tall enough to fit those oversized children’s books that never quite fit on our shelves at home.

Officer Bradley finished and installed the library over Labor Day weekend, perfectly timed with our big yard sale. Thanks to the extra foot traffic, neighbors stopped by, admired the library and shared their excitement. Some had never seen one before, so it was fun to explain the “take a book, leave a book” philosophy.

I had saved books all year to get it started, so we opened with a full shelf. By the end of that first weekend, the collection had already transformed, with donations from yard sale visitors and neighbors. My favorite moments are before and after school, when kids stop to browse. Hearing their excitement when they find a book that sparks joy absolutely fills my heart.

I’m proud to contribute to our community in this small but meaningful way. These libraries may be little, but they make a huge impact. 

Kent District Library offers several Free Libraries throughout our service area. These mini-libraries typically house around 40 books each, including youth, teen and adult fiction and nonfiction materials. People are encouraged to take a book and leave a book.