The phenomena of Little Free Libraries — those neighborhood wood boxes on a post offering free books to borrow, has only grown more popular with the pandemic, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times. 

The trend was started in Hudson, Wis. In 2009 by social entrepreneur Tod Bol.

Today, there are more than 100,000 Little Free Libraries in all 50 states and in 108 countries.

There’s a nonprofit (littlefreelibrary.org) with a website map listing all registered Little Free Libraries. There’s also plans on how to build one for your neighborhood.

One family in Broomall created a “Quaint Corner Library.”

 “As COVID closed the public library this little library provided an oasis for local readers,” reads their inscription on the website map.

The Broomall Rotary Club built a two-level little library at Veterans Memorial Park to honor their current president, Leslie Stack.

In Haverford, a library was built inside the trunk of an old tree.

Another on Earlington Road honors the memory of teacher Ann Allison who instilled a love of reading in her students.

 In Swarthmore Karl Rennick-Zuefle built two, at Crum Creek Park and Umoja Park for his Eagle Scout project.

Read more at the Daily Times about Little Free Libraries.

Here’s a DIY video on how to build your own Little Free Library.