Little Free Libraries Hope to Always Keep You Stocked With a Beach Read

The Long Beach Public Library, together with the City of Long Beach, has installed four Little Free Libraries on the boardwalk near the Franklin, Grand, Magnolia and Monroe Boulevard ticket booths.

Little Free Libraries look like birdhouses and serve as book exchanges holding approximately 30 paperbacks each. Suggested by Youth Services librarian Tanya Suarez, the goal of this project is to reach readers who may not visit the library but who may be interested in a beach read. It is the first library-sponsored project of its kind in Nassau County.  

“The library is proud to bring this innovative outreach program to Long Beach,” said Library Board President Kathleen Dwyer. “We hope this will extend the joy of reading while building a sense of community amongst users of our Little Libraries.”

Visitors to the Little Free Libraries can take out and return books without a library card, much like the exchange in the Long Beach train station.

“We are proud to be the first community in Nassau County to have a free outdoor library of this kind,” said City Council President Scott Mandel. “We encourage residents and visitors to stop by one of these locations on our beautiful new boardwalk to pick up a book to read during their day at the beach.”

The Little Free Library movement started in Wisconsin and as of January 2014, there were 15,000 registered Little Free Libraries across 56 countries. Each Library has a charter number, an insignia and can be located on a U.S. map.

Long Beach’s Little Libraries were painted by local residents Michele Asarch, Melinda Greenberg, Amber Werner and Tanya Suaraz and were installed by library custodian Michael Scandariato. Paperback book donations will be accepted at the library to support the exchanges.