Building a Little Free Library in Brooklyn, NYC
With the help of my family and neighbors, I recently led an initiative to install a Little Free Library on my block in Brooklyn. I’ll do my best to document the process in this blog post so that others can get a sense of the level of effort it requires to bring one of these into existence.
Background
I’ve seen them around for years, and occasionally stop to grab a book (though admittedly I had never contributed books). I think their appeal increases when you’re walking with a kid, which I’ve been doing a lot during the COVID-19 era. I have a beginner reader in tow who is always looking for new material.
Our block has an active email group, and there were some recent discussions about adding a community fridge and a little library in front of the church at the end of the block. I had also seen some discussion a few years back about building a little library from scrap lumber that a neighbor had leftover after a home improvement project, but it never materialized.
Why can’t we have a little library on our block? What would it take? I hit the google and started to explore the options. I’m not scared of construction projects, but I don’t have the benefit of a workshop and lots of readily available power tools. Online searches will quickly lead you to the Little Free Library online store.
Little Free Library is a nonprofit that maintains a global registry of libraries along with providing plans, kits, fully-built libraries, and stewardship resources. Even if you design and build your own, they encourage you to register and get a unique charter number and metal plate to declare your affiliation with the organization.
Planning
We liked the 2-story library design. We wanted a kit because it costs less and would be a lot more fun to assemble with neighbors. We wanted composite materials so it would be more durable and not require fresh paint every few years. After shipping, the library itself would be about $400. I budgeted another $100 for lumber for the base and other supplies, yielding a total budget of $500 USD.
Get Permission
I think I’ve seen little libraries in tree pits in NYC, but they really should be installed on private property but accessible from the public sidewalk. Make sure you get permission from the property owner before proceeding.
Fundraising
To raise the funds, we did a bagel drive. I’ve been baking homemade bagels since COVID lockdowns began, and it’s become a routine task each weekend to make 6 bagels. A few months back, we decided to sell them to the block just to see who would be interested and to see how big of a batch we could handle at one time (the answer is 3 dozen!). That experiment was a success, but was a pretty exhausting ordeal, so I decided we wouldn’t be doing it again any time soon. The little library fundraiser would resurrect the bagel operation, and once we announced it, there was tremendous support!
We sold another three dozen homemade bagels, asking only for a donation with each bagel order. We were able to raise the necessary funds in just a few days! We ordered the library kit, and started planning for the installation.
Call Before You Dig
Little Free Libraries usually sit on a 4x4 wood post, which must be set in the ground. You should always have an understanding of where underground utilities are before digging. Even though we would be hand-digging, and not very deep, it is required by law and pretty effortless to request a utility markout.
I learned that NY state has two different 811 (utility markout) programs, one for NYC and Long Island (aka New York 811), and another for the rest of the state (aka Dig Safely New York). I called New York 811 and the gas and electrical lines were marked within a few days. We knew there was a gas line in the vicinity of our library site, but the markout confirmed that we were far enough away to dig safely.
This is a topic for another blog post, but I also learned that NYC’s Department of Environmental Protection, who maintains the city’s water and sewer systems, is not a participant in the 811 program! If you want your water and sewer lines marked in NYC, you have to hire a master plumber to pull records and/or bring specialized equipment out to search for the lines.
Planning for the Build
The library itself only requires a hammer and a screwdriver/screw gun to assemble. The stand is a bit more involved, and I ended up drafting my own design based on various designs I found online.
The library sits on a 2x6 cut to 15" wide, with mitered edges. The 2x6 then sits on the 4x4 post and is also supported by two 45-degree 4x4 supports. In order to avoid having to do any complex angled countersinking of lag screws, I went with decorative angle brackets to attach the angled supports to the main support.
In the days prior to the build, I gathered materials and tools. Here’s what we needed, tool-wise:
- Screw Gun
- Chop Saw
- Socket Set
- Post Hole Digger
- Small shovel/spade
- Sandpaper/Orbital Sander
- Paddle bits/Drill Bits
And for materials:
- 4"x4"x8' pressure treated
- 2"x6"x24" pressure-treated
- 2ea decorative 45-degree angle bracket
- 3ea 2" lag screw with washer
- 2" wood screws
- 50lb bag of quick-dry cement
- Gravel/Stone (for drainage)
- Exterior Stain/Sealer
Build Day
We started at 9:30 am on a Saturday, with a crew of four adults and a handful of kids. We simultaneously attacked the three tasks of digging the hole, assembling the base, and assembling the library kit.
Everything went smoothly, and after 90 minutes or so we were ready to set the post. We did a final measurement make sure the library door would clear the fence, made the cut, and set it in place with stakes.
After letting the cement dry, we removed the temporary braces and attached the library with wood screws. Build complete!
Painting
We decided to go with a blue and white color scheme, and a design that is an homage to a nearby mural that is beloved by residents of our block. Sadly, the mural is coming down due to new construction at the property it sits on, so we thought it would be nice to let it live on through our library.
We used exterior paint from Lowes for the base, and colored acrylics from Michael’s for the blue and red accents.
Conclusion
This project went from idea to funded to built in less than a month! We announced that the library was open for business, and within 24 hours it was loaded with books. It’s also on the Little Free Library registry, charter #123458. I hope you found this useful, good luck with your library project!
