In general, libraries are great civic institutions. By any measure, the Newton Free Library is a great town library. Aside from it’s own collection and it’s access to the Minuteman Library system’s collection, it’s beautifully appointed and also serves as a community center. Any week of the year there are a whole series of free events held at the library – author talks, local history, art etc.
The one major downside of building the beautiful, central Newton Free library was that the city closed down all of the neighborhood branch libraries. Two of those branch libraries though survived in a different form. The Auburndale and Waban Library mutated into volunteer run neighborhood libraries. Each of these volunteer run libraries are also wonderful civic institutions that fill a somewhat different role than the central Free Library. Both the Auburndale and Waban Library of course lend books but they also serve as the heart of each of those neighborhoods. They each host a broad array of neighborhood activities – everything from clubs meetings, author talks, concerts, theater, etc. Our own Newton Nomadic Theater has performed regularly at both of them.
There’s even one more, even less known, layer of libraries in the city. Right around the corner from my 
house on Rockland Place, our neighbors Margaret & Mick Alexander are the proprietor of a “Little Free Library” (bottom photo). 1000’s of these itty bitty neighborhood libraries have sprung up in recent years all across the country. They’re homemade, little weatherproof sheds that hold a shelf or two of books and are planted by a homeowner in their front yard – for their neighbors use. I’m a regular user of Margaret & Mick’s library.
I just received an email this morning from Emily Williams, another Upper Falls neighbor who lives about a half mile away on Cottage St. She was inspired by Margaret & Mick’s and decided to open her own Little Free Library for her Cottage St neighbors up in Upper Upper Falls. She just sent a photo (above) of her just constructed library being tested for its weather-proofed’ness in yesterday’s snow. She’s officially opening her library for business at 12 Cottage St on Sunday Feb 14 at noon. To sweeten the pot, she’s providing free cookies for her neighbors.
This is a movement I’d love to see spread across the city. There’s a wonderful vibe that it brings to a neighborhood when neighbors, who otherwise might not know each other, begin sharing books and crossing paths at an itty-bitty library.
Do you know of any other Little Free Libraries in Newton? If so, let us know where. If not, get to work with your carpentry skills.
Upland Road in Waban, right near the Cochituate Aqueduct. I just took a picture, which I’ll text you.
Here’s a picture of the Upland Rd branch – thanks Andreae
I just saw one in Taos last week, up a dirt road from my sister’s place. How often do the operators switch out books, so the people using them see new titles?
Rockland Place in Upper Falls.
Julia, I think that you can take, or donate or swap books. So the inventory is always changing.
I saw one a few months ago outside the Star (or is it Shaw’s?) in Chestnut Hill. Don’t know if it’s still there.
There are two on “The Street” in Chestnut Hill: one outside Star Market, and one outside Shake Shack.
Here are pix:
Upland Road, Waban
Outside Star Market, Chestnut Hill
Outside Shake Shack, Chestnut Hill
My neighbors Ned and Susan have a little free library on Islington Road in the ‘Dale!
There are two on Randlett Park in West Newton
What a lovely idea! According to a map on the group’s website, there’s one at Newton Andover (Newton Centre). I knew I’d seen one recently–just couldn’t remember where. Now I’m thinking of putting one up–no shortage of books in this house to seed a start–but not till spring. Wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt climbing over snow to get to a book. Must think in terms of readymades, too. Woodworking is not one of my limited skills, and my chances of building anything weatherproof are nil.
@Amanda Heller – 🙂
There is one on Harvard Circle in Newtonville.
The Cottage St library is open and the inventory is growing, but the grand opening celebration has been postponed due to the frigid, frigid weather predicted for Sunday. (Though it does look like it will be a great weekend to curl up with a good book!)
There is one on Ballard Street – roughly in the middle of the block. Also, the one at The Street that was in front of The Shake Shack was not there today (perhaps removed temporarily as they are installing a sculpture exhibit in that section).
I frequently walk past the beautiful Little Free Library at the corner of Centre Street and Woodcliff, and over the last week or so, I’ve noticed that several times it’s gone from chockablock full to nearly empty over the course of 24 hours.
That got me wondering if some people occasionally (or often) come by and just decide to help themselves to the entire inventory of books for themselves?
It would be very interesting to hear the experience of the town’s Little Free Librarians.