Little House and Little Libraries

I ease my car up to the curb, parallel parking adjacent to the Little Free Library at DeGarmo Park as I do every week. I hoist my overflowing book bag out of the backseat. In my mind, this spot should be an actual parking space with a painted “reserved for librarian” designation. The librarian is me, a job title I have given myself.  I lug the bag over to the cupboard that houses books of all types, free to anyone. I survey the contents and pull out any that are too tattered. Also removed are any books that I decide are not of general interest including things like “Tax Code 2003” or “An Analysis of Wuthering Heights.” I neatly restock the shelves with enticing selections, load my bag with the rejects to donate, and get back in the car.

The Little Free Library movement was started in 2009 and has grown exponentially, boasting more than 90,000 little libraries listed worldwide. With 90 countries participating, it’s the world’s largest book sharing movement. Here in Chico, there are 11 Little Free Libraries sponsored by the Chico Friends of the Butte County Library and 17 others on the registry, that people have placed in their yards for the community. You can take a book, leave a book or both. There is a map on the website, littlefreelibrary.org where you can search for locations.

Growing up, I had a small personal library. My most treasured books were the Little House on the Prairie collection. I re-read those books, in order, more times than I can say. That is, except Farmer Boy, which is nobody’s favorite. As an avid reader, I would scour the shelves of the bookmobile during its weekly visits to my school. If I blew through my choices, back to Little House in the Big Woods I would go. My love of books, and Little House on the Prairie have strung a common thread through my life and prepared me for my eventual role of “librarian.”

With a book always at my bedside, I fed my habit through high school. At UC Santa Barbara, I naturally worked at the library for a few years, sorting and shelving and checking books in and out. Once I was married, I joined the first of many book groups.  Technology has offered a book crazed gal like me all kinds of new options. I subscribe to Goodreads and Audible. I follow Oprah and Reese Witherspoon’s book club suggestions. I occasionally use Book Seer where a “genie” will suggest a new title by “looking in a magic ball” after I enter prior titles I have read. Over the years, I have requested so many titles for purchase by the Chico Library that my friend Maureen who works there, gave me the “title” of Collection Development Consultant.

Ken and I raised two avid readers. We began story time when they were babies. We hauled home a maximum allowable allotment of picture books from the Chico library every week (it’s 25 if you’re wondering). I volunteered in the Shasta School library, worked at the book fair and coordinated the accelerated reader book purchases for a time. We never missed a chance to order from the scholastic fliers that came home. I even bought books to help me find books to read. Titles like “Great Books for Girls,” “100 Books Every Boy Should Read” and “Book Lust” were heavily referred to by me, in my search for the next great read for myself and the kids.

Our daughter Zoey inherited my Little House on the Prairie books. Though she wasn’t as obsessed with the Ingalls family as her mother, she did indulge me by dressing as Laura, complete with a sun bonnet, for a 4th grade book report. She also agreed to join me on a pilgrimage to the Ingalls’ homestead in Walnut Grove, Minnesota where we attended an outdoor performance of their story along the banks of Plum Creek. A dream come true for any Little House fan.

When I was approached five years ago and asked if I would like to be a Steward for the Little Free Library that was being installed at DeGarmo Park, the answer was obvious. I had been training for this job my whole life. I could finally reveal my top-secret librarian identity and would happily, stock the shelves with books carefully chosen by yours truly each week. Bonnie Chapman-undercover librarian.  Feel free to stop by the Little Free Library at DeGarmo Park. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to find a well-loved copy of Little House on the Prairie. It’s worth another read.

https://littlefreelibrary.org/