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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Little Free Library Serves Neighbors

The Little Free Library in Mary Maxfield's front yard at 2217 E. 46th Avenue in Spokane, Wash., awaits the neighbors checking out books. (SR photo: Dan Pelle)

One possibly surprising thing about Little Free Libraries: Other than to borrow and drop off books, lingering to peruse the titles or page through the pictures, people leave them alone. That’s contrary to what passers-by wondered aloud when Mary Maxfield put up Little Free Library No. 848 – a peak-roofed box atop a sturdy post in her front yard on the South Hill, with a sign inviting people to take a book or leave one. How would she protect it from vandals? How would she keep people from throwing books into the street? Not an issue, said Maxfield, a retired program director for the Girl Scouts who erected her little library last spring. Well, one time some kids drove past, their car vibrating with loud music/Adrian Rogers, SR. More here.

Question: Would you like to see something like this in your neighborhood?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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