Take a Book. Share a Book. - Little Free Library [Unofficial]

The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and U.S. Steel have teamed up to bring Little Free Library book-sharing boxes to the local Pittsburgh area! These Little Free Libraries are an extension of the Pittsburgh Penguins and U. S. Steel’s Reading Champions Program, promoting a strong reading foundation in diverse, high-need, communities around Pittsburgh. Locations and Impact Last fall, U.S. Steel and the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation built seven book-sharing boxes to kick-off their Little Free Library initiative. The initial libraries can be found at PPG Paints Arena, the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation Office, as well as the following U. S. Steel facilities: Clairton, Edgar Thomson, Irvin, and Research. They continue to establish additional Little Free Libraries in public locations throughout the city where fans can stop by to pick up a book for their collection or donate their own book for new readers to enjoy. Accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, each of the new Little Free Libraries comes stocked with titles personally curated through donations from U. S. Steel as well as Pittsburgh Penguins players and management. Titles include Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, recommended by player Connor Dewar; Bear Town by Fredrik Backman, recommended by player Blake Lizotte; and Lord of the Rings by J.J.R Tolkien, recommended by player Sergei Murashov. Two Little Free Library book-sharing boxes at PPG Paints Arena, featuring custom artwork by local artist Tyler Podomik. We are grateful to the incredible employee volunteers from U. S. Steel and the Pittsburgh Penguins who came together to build and decorate Little Free Library book-sharing boxes. Their generosity and commitment to literacy are inspiring. These libraries will be a lasting gift—opening doors to books, ideas, and community connections for years to come.” Daniel Gumnit, CEO of the Little Free Library nonprofit organization Learn more about our ongoing partnership with U.S. Steel and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and find information about how to start your own Little Free Library!

Captain Underpants is back! We’re teaming up with Dog Man and Captain Underpants creator Dav Pilkey and Scholastic to spark book joy and expand access to reading across the United States. 100 custom-designed Little Free Libraries featuring Dav Pilkey’s beloved characters will be installed in schools, public libraries, and communities in book deserts, bringing books directly to children and families who need them most. The initiative, which launched on the much-anticipated April 7th publication of Pilkey’s Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga and to celebrate National School Library Month, is an expansion of the successful “Power Up with Reading” collaboration which brought Little Free Libraries to all 50 states. The April rollout of these 100 Little Free Libraries will continue through July in time for summer reading. Designed with Pilkey’s signature bold, playful illustrations and painted in a striking red, the Little Free Libraries will serve as instantly recognizable beacons of fun and literacy. Funded by Dav Pilkey, this impactful initiative will deliver not only eye-catching book-sharing boxes but also thousands of books to communities where access to reading materials is limited. Each library will be stocked with a curated collection of kid-friendly titles, including copies of the new Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga, written and adapted by Pilkey and illustrated by Japanese manga artist Motojiro, ensuring every location offers an engaging reading experience for children. “Every child deserves access to books,” said Dav Pilkey. “With this initiative, we hope to spark curiosity, imagination, and a lifelong love of reading. I’m truly grateful to all the librarians, teachers, reading specialists and volunteers, and the teams at Little Free Library and Scholastic who dedicate themselves to make literacy their mission.” “Dav Pilkey’s stories have inspired millions of kids to fall in love with reading,” said Little Free Library’s CEO Daniel Gumnit. “Together with Dav Pilkey and Scholastic, we’re turning that inspiration into action—placing books directly into communities and inviting kids to discover the joy of reading right outside their doors. By combining Dav Pilkey’s signature humor with a shared commitment to literacy, Little Free Library and Scholastic are helping ensure that more kids can discover the transformative power of books. As these colorful libraries appear in neighborhoods across the country, they stand as lasting symbols of imagination, access, and the simple joy of reading—inviting kids everywhere to open a book, laugh out loud, and keep coming back for more.” Enter to win Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga In tandem with the Little Free Library installations, LFL is hosting a nationwide book giveaway in collaboration with Scholastic and Pilkey. All Little Free Library fans in the U.S. and Canada are eligible to enter to win one of 200 copies of Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga. Priority will be given to school and libraries that enter to win. To enter, click HERE. Enter to win a copy of Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga

The national nonprofits First Book and Little Free Library recently announced a new partnership to expand access to brand-new books for Little Free Library’s book-sharing boxes across the country. Through the new partnership, announced during the Public Library Association conference in Minneapolis, First Book is creating special book bundles developed for Little Free Library stewards serving under-resourced neighborhoods. Each book bundle, available through the award-winning online First Book Marketplace, will include 25 titles designed to appeal to a wide range of readers, based on readers’ ages, languages, interests, and more. The titles in each bundle will be auto-selected through the First Book Marketplace; Little Free Library stewards will have the option to change the book selections, making the bundles fully customizable with curated, diverse titles that align with the needs and interests of their local community. Read the full press release here.  This partnership will roll out in three distinct phases: Phase 1: Book bundles provided to program stewards April 2026 All Little Free Library program stewards receive a 25-book bundle as a part of their grant package. These curated bundles contain diverse and community relevant titles. There are currently four bundle options: multiage, young readers, English/Spanish, and Indigenous. Through this partnership, all bundles to program stewards will be supplied by First Book. Additionally, stewards eligible for the First Book Marketplace (see below) will be able to browse the bundles and purchase titles from them. Learn more about the Little Free Library Programs! Phase 2: Access to the First Book Marketplace for all program stewards Spring 2026 In addition to receiving a 25-book bundle from First Book, program stewards will have access to the First Book Marketplace, where they can purchase books at a reduced price. Benefits of the First Book Marketplace include low cost brand new books, bulk books from the book bank, and free educational resources. Phase 3: Access to the First Book Marketplace for all eligible stewards Summer 2026 Finally, phase three of this partnership will open access to the First Book Marketplace to any Little Free Library steward in the United States or Canada who meets First Book’s eligibility criteria. Eligibility will be determined via steward zip code. Eligible stewards will have access to the First Book Marketplace, where they can purchase books at a reduced price. Eligibility requires that at least 70% of the children served by a Little Free Library fall into one or more of the following categories: students attending Title I–eligible schools, children with disabilities, Indian Education Program beneficiaries, participants in military family support programs, or children impacted by natural or human-caused disasters. Benefits of the First Book Marketplace include low-cost brand new books, bulk books from the book bank, and free educational resources. Through this partnership, Little Free Library continues our efforts to increase book access to communities where it is needed most!

The Little Free Library nonprofit is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its core philanthropic initiative: the Impact Library Program, which gives no-cost Little Free Libraries filled with books to communities where books are scarce. Since launching in 2016, the program has granted more than 3,500 Little Free Libraries and 87,500 books to underserved neighborhoods across the United States and Canada, thanks to the support of individual donors and corporate sponsors. For many communities, these libraries provide one of the few reliable sources of free books. “Seeing the Impact Library Program grow over the last ten years has been incredibly meaningful,” said Shelby King, Senior Director of Impact and Culture at LFL, who has been with the organization for more than a decade. “The Little Free Libraries and diverse books we grant are reaching communities that deserve greater access to reading material. In fact, 95% of Impact Library recipients report that they are providing access to books to people who have little-to-no access anywhere else.” The Impact Library Program operates via an application-based grant process. Individuals, schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canada can apply to receive a no-cost Little Free Library package. Applications collect information about community need, and priority is given to locations in book deserts—areas where access to books is limited or nonexistent. If selected, recipients receive a Little Free Library book-sharing box, installation materials, a starter collection of culturally responsive books, and a charter sign. The charter number allows the library to be registered on LFL’s global map and mobile app and connects stewards with ongoing support from the organization’s Steward Services team. Stories from Impact Library Recipients Our Little Free Libraries have grown into an important resource in the communities we serve,” said Mason Furman of the Furman Literacy Project in Miami, FL. “Across the 19 libraries we maintain, we restock more than 3,000 books each month and serve approximately 2,000 community members. Many of the neighborhoods where the libraries are located have limited access to bookstores or public libraries, so these free book exchanges help remove barriers to reading. Beyond providing books, the libraries have helped create a culture of sharing.”  Being a steward feels like tending a small wooden garden of stories,” said Sima Hill of Decatur, GA. “My most rewarding moments are when this father and daughter visit the library on the way from school. The child’s face lights up upon discovering what’s new. I see literacy the way I see seeds: full of possibility, waiting for the right light. The Impact Library Program felt like sunlight. It felt like an invitation to nurture not just a box of books, but a culture of belonging. I applied because I believe in growth and accessible stories that open the world to children and adults. I applied because when we place books in the library, we are quietly saying, ‘You matter, your curiosity matters and your story matters.’”  Need Remains Great Over the past decade, the program has become one of the LFL nonprofit’s most powerful tools for increasing book access and building stronger, more connected communities.  Yet demand for the program continues to grow. Today, more than 1,000 applicants remain on the waiting list, hoping to receive a Little Free Library for their community.  Each Impact Library depends on donor support to fund the structure, installation materials, and starter books. “With additional support, we can place even more Little Free Libraries where they’re needed most,” King said. “Every donation helps put books directly into the hands of kids and families who might not otherwise have access to them.” Learn more about the Impact Library Program, and consider making a donation to help fund more libraries. Apply to the Impact Library Program

We are so pleased to announce the launch of the inaugural National Little Free Library Day on May 17, marking the beginning of Little Free Library Week, May 17–23, 2026. Observed on the anniversary of Little Free Library becoming a nonprofit in 2012, May 17 highlights our organization’s mission to build community, inspire readers, and expand book access via our global network of more than 200,000 book-sharing boxes. Through our nonprofit programs, we provide thousands of Little Free Libraries and books to individuals and organizations in “book deserts”—areas with limited or no access to reading materials.  National Little Free Library Day will serve as a focal point for a weeklong celebration that invites people everywhere to share books, connect with neighbors, and engage with Little Free Libraries in their communities. Celebrate Little Free Library Week “We’re thrilled to introduce National Little Free Library Day to celebrate the joy and power of this movement and the people behind the books—the neighbors, families, volunteers, and partners who bring Little Free Libraries to life,” said Daniel Gumnit, CEO and Executive Director of Little Free Library. “During Little Free Library Week, we’re reminded that sharing a book can spark a love of reading, bring neighbors together, and build stronger, more caring communities.”  Everyone is invited to join the Little Free Library Week celebration by taking part in simple, meaningful activities that support literacy and community connection. During Little Free Library Week, we will also announce the winners of the 2026 Todd H. Bol Awards for Outstanding Achievement, honoring stewards who are making a difference in communities worldwide. Learn more about National Little Free Library Day and Little Free Library Week!

When Little Free Library steward Katie Labbe posted a video of her young neighbor’s excitement over a book she had shared in her book-exchange box, she didn’t expect it to… Continue reading Little Free Library Steward’s Post Showing Excited Young Reader’s Reaction to New Book Goes Viral The post Little Free Library Steward’s Post Showing Excited Young Reader’s Reaction to New Book Goes Viral appeared first on Little Free Library.

The Impact Library Program turned 10 this year, and to help celebrate this milestone, we gave the Impact Library map an upgrade! The new and improved map better highlights the… Continue reading Little Free Library Gives the Impact Library Program Map an Upgrade The post Little Free Library Gives the Impact Library Program Map an Upgrade appeared first on Little Free Library.

It’s not uncommon to find “treasures” in Little Free Library book-sharing boxes. Although, these treasures are typically in the form of a best-seller that has been on your TBR or… Continue reading More Than Books: A Special Keepsake Found in a Little Free Library Launched an Unexpected Journey The post More Than Books: A Special Keepsake Found in a Little Free Library Launched an Unexpected Journey appeared first on Little Free Library.

Nothing completes a summer vacation better than a trusty beach read to enjoy on the beach, by the pool, or on a lakefront dock. The Little Free Library nonprofit organization… Continue reading Little Free Library and Vrbo Team Up to Bring Free Beach Reads to Popular Vacation Towns in the U.S. The post Little Free Library and Vrbo Team Up to Bring Free Beach Reads to Popular Vacation Towns in the U.S. appeared first on Little Free Library.

Last week, Hachette Book Group (HBG) and Little Free Library announced their largest-ever publishing collaboration: the installation of 200 library boxes in book deserts across the United States and Canada. The initiative commemorates HBG’s 200th… Continue reading Hachette Celebrates 200th Anniversary with Little Free Library Through Largest-Ever Publishing Collaboration The post Hachette Celebrates 200th Anniversary with Little Free Library Through Largest-Ever Publishing Collaboration appeared first on Little Free Library.