Little Free Library @ H. P. Rawlings Conservatory--#48618

Closed for Up-Grades

Well, my earlier attempt at ridding the paper wasps from my Little Free Library failed. I awoke this morning to look out and see that the door frame had been broken and upon further inspection was greeted by a little hive of wasps. These are NOT the yellow jacketed ground hornets--I loathe them! They are vicious little useless gits. These are those gangly gentle folk that build such amazing colonies of papery hives. Sometimes they are called mud daubers, because they use water to help them form their fascinating incubators.

I surmise that someone stopped to visit the Little Free Library and being surprised by a wasp (or two) in their haste pulled away from the door and broke it. So I removed the books (as the wasps flew around curious of my presence). I removed the door and retrieved the broken piece with the handle. And then I did what I had to which I really didn't like... several flew away, 6 or so died in the spraying. I scraped the hive away from the apex of the inside of the LFL's vaulted ceiling.

I then set about repairing the door in the backyard. I returned to the empty open LFL only to discover that a couple of the wasps had returned. So I sprayed again. I let it set for a hour and returned to clean it out with a little bleach water. Later in the afternoon, I replaced the repaired door and posted a sign. I'll check it again tomorrow morning to see if any of the wasps have returned. I hope not.

Little Free Libraries of Takoma Park

I made a hometown field trip! I literally tried to drive up and down every street in Takoma Park in search of Little Free Libraries. I had a feeling that there were a lot of them. I seem to see new ones all the time. I figured maybe 15. To my surprise I discovered 27! (And reviewing my adventure on an actual map, I think I covered about 90%+ of the streets.)

As a side I learn some other wonderful things about my chosen hometown.

1) There are so many amazingly beautiful homes
2) Gardens abound on every street and in diverse places
3) People display art in their yards in a wide variety to formats
4) There are a lot of people buying homes and then renovating or completely building from scratch new homes on the old lots
5) In every neighborhood evidence that celebrates racial, sexual, and cultural diversity is astounding.
6) It's no wonder that my property values are so high!!

And so, without further ado, I give you the results of my explorations: The 27 Little Free Libraries of Takoma Park, Maryland! (And yes, some are very similar--I think there was a workshop held at our local independent library that birthed them!)

Oh! And I dedicate this to my friend, Tom, who was my conduit to this amazing literacy phenomenon, and who has helped to transform his Chicago neighborhood in the same way.

Little Free Library: Up-Date

When we got back to the truck after our walk in the park, my neighbor Ana called us over to give Romeo a treat (she spoils him something fierce), and a donation of books for my Little Free Library.

 Presently the little free library is fully stocked and lots of great books for the taking: "Cutting for Stone" by Abraham Verghese, "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver, "Go Tell It On The Mountain," by James Baldwin.  Essays "Here If You Need Me," by Kate Breastrup and "Digressions on Some Poems by Frank O'Hara," by Jow LeSeuer.  Memoirs by Brooke Shields and Lesley McSpadden (Michael Brown's mother), non-fiction titles like "How Children Succeed," by Paul Tough and "Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?," by Frans De Waal.  There are several detective mysteries and a couple of intermediate elementary chapter books, and more.

Little Free Library Update

Took time today to replant the planter on the stoop of my Little Free Library.  Unfortunately the rose bush that had graced it for the past few years, died over the winter.  It was a harsh winter.  Perhaps the chemicals to melt the snow on the road contributed...

Be that as it is, I replaced the rose bush and added some petunias and lobelia for summer.  Tomorrow I will spray the lot with "Deer Out" in the hopes of destroying any desire for the deer to see this as some sort of wonderful salad prepared for their benefit!

Little Free Library Update

I like to keep current and new copies of books there for people to discover, take and read.  Here are the latest new books that I've ordered.

David Brooks is a Republican pundit and commentator that I honestly respect greatly for his integrity and fairness. In his new book The Road to Character he explores the lives of various people throughout American history and the lessons their lives leave to us; lessons that go beyond pontification and platitude, the lessons of character.

Captain Janeway has just penned a memoir and I'm so excited to read it. She is one of those people whom I would dearly love to have lunch with at my favorite NYC restaurant, Cafe Grazzi on 84th Street east just off Central Park near the Met. From her time on the Soap Ryan's Hope to her current role on Orange is the New Black, she shares the life that we never knew. Her interview hawking the book on NPR was quite moving.

While I love all the books that arrive and leave I always what there to be current books, new books there, too.

Little Free Library

Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, Nor Snow....   Well, maybe snow!

My Little Free Library #8921 remains open, even if there were no takers today!

Little Free Library

Ready for Autumn.

 More new titles: "The Shipping News," "The Beekeeper's Daughter," and "The Children Act."

And a shiny little fall owl wind chime.

Little Free Library Local Reach

Some of the now many other LFLibraries in my vicinity.

 I often regift books to this one.  It's in a great location, but lacks any sense of intentional support so far as I can see.

Little Free Library International

The movement to create local, autonomous venues for the free distribution of books and intellectual commerce has taken off around the world.  I love it!

 PAKISTAN

 VIETNAM

GHANA 

 ISRAEL

IRELAND 

 UKRAINE

 ITALY

QATAR 

AUSTRALIA 

COLOMBIA 

HONDURAS 

SOUTH KOREA