Little Free Libraries

Now that summer is here, I’ve noticed more and more people have put their Little Free Libraries up in their yards. Seeing them as I walk around my neighborhood always puts a smile on my face because they combine three of my favorite things: books, reuse, and community-building.

Little Free Libraries are small structures that house free books. Passers-by are able to take books home with them to enjoy and leave their own books in the library as well. The libraries themselves can take any form, but they are usually wooden and a little bit bigger than a large microwave. Many are located outside, but I’ve also seen plenty indoors, including some on university campuses and the one pictured above at the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis. Any individual or business can start a Little Free Library; all they need is a structure and some gently used books to share. We are lucky to have many here in Minnesota, probably due to our close proximity to the invention of the Little Free Library in Hudson, Wisconsin. Despite having started only 5 years ago, Little Free Libraries can now be found across the entire country and scattered across the globe as well.

By providing an easy way for people to reuse books they no longer want and get new-to-them books they haven’t yet read, Little Free Libraries offer a wonderfully green reuse system. In addition to sharing books, some people have begun sharing other items in their libraries, like seeds and recipes. The libraries can foment community connections, since people often stop and chat with their neighbors when picking up and dropping of books, and many residents feel a justifiable sense of pride in their local Little Free Library, especially if it is uniquely designed or creatively decorated.

To learn more about Little Free Libraries, you can visit their website at http://littlefreelibrary.org/. The site has a wealth of interesting information and resources, including premade libraries for purchase and a map of registered Little Free Libraries across the world; the map is by no means comprehensive because many people have not yet officially registered their library. So if you don’t see a Little Free Library in your neighborhood on the map, take a walk around and see if there is one that hasn’t yet been registered. Or, start your own!

Green Tips

Host an Art Night

Looking for a new way to connect with your neighbors, get free life advice, and spark your creative juices? Consider hosting an art night at your house, complete with paints, modeling clay, colored pencils and art smocks. Get messy, be creative, and let the conversation flow. For inspiration and resources, check out this article.

Choose Safe Art Supplies

Arts and crafts materials can be hazardous to your health and the environment. Even though the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act of 1988 requires stringent labeling of hazardous materials in art supplies, many materials are out of compliance. This article offers tips to help you choose safe art supplies, plus substitutes to harmful substances.

Support a Local Business

Did you know that roughly 73 cents of every dollar spent at a local business stays within the community, compared to 43 cents for non-local chain stores? When you buy from local businesses, you help that business employ community workers, support other local businesses, and contribute to the community’s overall health. Read more here about the benefits of buying locally.

Buy Green Office Supplies

“Green” doesn’t necessarily mean “good” when it comes to so-called green office supplies. To help your office green up, consider durability, natural resource and energy use, recycled content and recyclability, toxicity, biodegradability and packaging before you purchase supplies. You can also set up a reuse system for the supplies you already have. For more tips on green office products, check out this article.

Think Twice About Bottled Water

If you live in an area with clean drinking water, fill a reusable bottle with tap water and bring it with you wherever you go to avoid buying bottled water. The U.S. sends 2 million tons of plastic water bottles to landfills each year—and producing those bottles requires oil and emits carbon dioxide. Some restaurants in the Twin Cities feel so strongly against bottled water that they refuse to sell it. Learn more.

Contact Your State Legislator

As a constituent, you are your local legislators’ highest priority. Why not share your views with them and ask them to support your position? It may seem like your letters and emails will get lost in a deep, dark political hole, but don’t despair. Whether you call, fax, email or visit in person, this article offers tips on how to effectively communicate with your elected officials and get them to listen.

Get Engaged!

Individuals’ actions are important in setting sound policy, so become an engaged citizen. Whether you call your legislator’s office, testify in a legislative hearing or attend a rally, you can make your voice heard. Still doubt that you can make a difference? This article addresses couple common concerns about whether civic engagement is worth it.

Take the Energy Challenge

The fastest, cheapest, easiest way to reduce your carbon footprint is through energy efficiency and conservation. Plus, you’ll save yourself money in the process! Need a little boost to get started? Join the Minnesota Energy Challenge and learn from thousands of Minnesotans who have pledged to reduce their energy use—and are finding fun, creative ways to do it. Read more about the Challenge here.

Make an Action Plan

Wait. Scratch that. Don’t make your own list of simple things you can do today to make a positive difference for the climate—use ours! This list offers 20 easy things you can do that will help you and your family lighten your load on the environment, keep more money in your pocket, and inspire you to find even more ways to tread lightly on this earth.

Check Out This Template for Action

Scientists say a global warming “tipping point” in the Arctic seems to be happening before their eyes. Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is at its second lowest level in about 30 years. These news flashes are just some of our climate’s changes happening daily. You and your kids can help. Read more here, and then check out Climate Generations’s Take Action! Guide, which offers hands-on activities for grades 3-12.

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