Little Free Libraries / Libros Libres

WHAT IS A LIBRARY? THE STORY OF THE AVANCE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY

A library, what is a library? A library is an organized collection of books and resources made accessible to a community’s need as references, reading and borrowing. But what is a Little Free Library/Libros Libres?

A Little Free Library is a small library placed in a community. The little library provides free books for that community where people visiting the library are encouraged to drop off a book and take another home with them. The Little Free Library does not keep track of who takes a book, our visitors can feel free to keep the book as long as they want. Our visitors will no longer have to worry about fees for lost books or for turning them in late.

My name is Aurora Badillo, I am the toy instructor at AVANCE Dallas. My husband, Hugo Badillo and I agreed to have one of the Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres in front of our home. We had Mr. Alejandro Fernandez, an AVANCE graduate, build our little library and we are so grateful for his volunteer work on this project. Mr. Alejandro had never built anything for his community so this project was an exciting project to complete with his family. As a graduated of the AVANCE program he has learned the importance of volunteer work, and is always open to new project especially if it has to do with his children.

On June 9th we installed the Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres and ever since it has been a success. Rosita, Israel, and Ismael, our three children, are our little librarians. Everyday on their summer vacations they would go running to the little library to make sure books were always available. Now that school has started they are spreading the word to all their new friends about the little library. Ever since the opening we have had many many visitors come and go. It has been a great honor to host the library at our home.

It is a good feeling to see children come with great excitement and leave with a book and a big smile on their face. Our home is right in front of a park, where people take walks, run, take their kids to play, and have small picnics. After a long walk in the park and with kids tired from playing families will end their day by visiting the little library. Our library has maintained itself thanks to the many book donations it has received. At one time we had a visitor knocking at our doors with a bag of books to donate to us. We were really grateful with her donation but she held my hand tightly saying, “No, thank you for the Little Free Library/Libros Libres, we needed something like this in our community.” I was happy to hear this from this visitor and to see the impact the Little Free Library has made in the community.

- Aurora Badillo

STORIES

LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES/LIBROS LIBRES

Design - the thoughtful coordination of ideas, materials and place - is not typically thought of as an integral element in community revitalization and poverty alleviation. Even less typical is a process of deriving solutions to local concerns and opportunities that combines the technical knowledge of practitioners with the experiential knowledge of local residents. Design that starts with an assumption of local expertise that is equal to or more important than technical know how is the basis for the Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres program outlined in this book.

Each library is a unique product resulting from a sophisticated coordination of multiple people, organizations and ideas. Each person involved was encouraged to bring their knowledge and experience to this process to create a significantly more impactful outcome than a one-size-fits-all approach. The summary and stories included here will show how important the process of community informed design can be to practitioners and local residents as they address persistent societal problems.

The partnership between Big Thought, the Dallas Public Library, and [bc], along with the designers, stewards and local residents, would not have been possible without a strong desire to improve literacy outcomes, community cohesion and quality of life for a wide range of neighborhoods and end users. The Little Free Libraries / Libros Libres project is expandable, as this guide will show, so long as thoughtful design and making that includes all interested parties is kept at the center of the effort.

Brent Brown Executive Director, buildingcommunityWORKSHOP

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Big Thought works to innovate education in Dallas by providing youth with access to creative learning programs to help them imagine possibilities, excel academically and contribute to their community.

Big Thought develops campus and community based programs that impact academic achievement and address youth development by connecting classroom objectives and traditional teaching methods with arts, culture and creative learning. Through its partnerships, Big Thought serves more than 100,000 Dallas children, families and teachers each year, both in and out of the classroom.

The buildingcommunityWORKSHOP [bc] is a Texas nonprofit community design center seeking to improve the livability and viability of communities through the practice of thoughtful design and making. We enrich the lives of citizens by bringing design thinking to areas of our city where resources are most scarce.

To do so, the [bc] recognizes that it must first understand the social, economic, and environmental issues facing a community before beginning work.

The Mission of the Dallas Public Library is to link resources and customers to enhance lives.

The Dallas Public Library operates the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 28 library locations, and two Bookmobiles. The Library is committed to inform, entertain, enrich, and to foster the self-learning process by facilitating access to its collections, services, and facilities to all members of the community. All service efforts will focus on customer expectations and needs.

PARTNERS

LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES/LIBROS LIBRES

Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres is a literacy and community design initiative in Dallas, TX that pairs neighborhood residents and organizations with local designers to build small book shelters, creating new gathering spaces that promote literacy and community building. Part of the Little Free Library movement, this project promotes community ownership, encourages frequent use, and ensures the longevity of each library, improving the built environment alongside literacy in urban areas.

The global Little Free Library movement was the launching point for the project, with its low-resource, high access model to strengthen reading in neighborhoods.

LITTLE FREE LIBRARY

Little Free Library was start by Todd Bol and Rick Brooks in 2009 with amission:

• To promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide.

• To build a sense of community as we share skills, creativity and wisdom across generations.

And the goal of building 2,510 Little Free Libraries - as many as Andrew Carnegie - and keep going. Today, there are an estimated 15,000+ Little Free Libraries around the world.

Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres builds on the idea of free book exchanges - which has seen tremendous success in suburban areas - and creates a process that results in high quality, functional designs in urban settings. Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres is organized through a collaborative partnership between Big Thought, buildingcommunity WORKSHOP [bc], and the Dallas Public Library.

literacy planning

organizing

designing

building

LFL/Libros Libres place making

LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES IN DALLAS

Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres builds on the Little Free Library model by creating a collaborative design process that provides free access to books housed within high quality, custom designed containers. Each library is designed and built to be site specific in an urban context and meet the needs of a diverse set of users and literacy levels.

As local experts, the Dallas Public Library and Big Thought identified a lack of access to books as a major concern, with only 29 branch libraries open on average 34 hours per week. LFL Libros Libres addresses this need by reducing the library to its bare minimum and creating an attractive, meaningful space for easily accessing books within a collaborative, community-engaged process.

This community-based approach is necessary to create expressive designs that reflect each neighborhood’s identity, creating place. This process promotes community ownership, encourages frequent use, and ensures longevity of each library, improving the built environment alongside literacy in urban areas.

before Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres

LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES IN DALLAS

after Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres

LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES/LIBROS LIBRES dallas geographies the project occured simultaneously in two geographies

build partnerships planning define geography establish roles create materials

organizing designing building

literacy south dallas/fair park & lincoln & madison high school place making

west dallas pinkston high school

The success of the Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres comes from strong organizational partnerships and collaboration between community members and designers.

The primary activities of planning, organizing, pair designer & steward designing, and building took place across two geographies: inwith the High School feeder designer engage localPinkston community finalpattern design geographies site specific design & planning designer recruitment share with in West Dallas and the Lincoln anddallas Madison High School feeder patterns in South Dallas/Fair Park.

Allcommunities the project occured simultaneously in two geographies three ofpersonal theseoutreach schools are DISD Imagine 2020 schools (www.dallasisd.org/imagine2020), a program that, build partnerships peer design review strengthen design community and deepen community design meeting “is a commitment of resources and support intended to accelerate student achievement organizational outreach quality control broad community input & ideas planning studentdesigner learning.

Imagine organizing 2020 will: Increase student academic -achievement, Increase south college dallas/fairand park career literacy orientation general design activities define geography & designing lincoln & madison high school generate interest readiness, Develop teachers to be their best.� build & install establish roles place making create materials

west dallas building confirm designers pinkston high school

Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres

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steward recruitment

organize community & site permissions review and approve design identify & get permission for site

personal outreach community meetings

stewardship

generate interest

steward education outreach & engagement strategies tools for literacy designer engage with local community site specific design & planning

continue education & outreach ensure access to books evaluate outcomes register Little Free Library

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team

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arts based education steward recruitment community design personal outreach literacy community meetings generate interest

locations

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broad community input & ideas general designdesign activitiesmeetings meetings

project overview confirm designers presentation recruitement materials processconfirm stewards maps refreshments dallas west library mlk library

final design share with communities

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build day

celebrate & steward build & install

project overview LFL assembly locations evaluation method Libres presentation coffee, dounts, & lunch Little Free Libraries/Libros books design > peer design review > refinement stocktools with books recruitement materials shared tools & power educational present design review spacedesign to steward technical assistance technical assistance plan a build day design activities safety & coordination safety & coordination organize community & site permissions refreshments books celebration party stewardship review and approve design identify & get permission for site continue education & outreach dallas west library Lakewest YMCA installed LFLsto books ensure access mlk library Full City Rooseter neighborhoods evaluate outcomes steward education register Free Library bcWORKSHOP individual sites partnerLittle organizations outreach & engagement strategies tools for literacy

literacy planning

organizing

designing

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LFL/Libros Libres

THE LIBROS LIBRESplace PROCESS making team

planning meetings

community meetings

design meetings

build day

celebrate & steward

project overview

project overview

LFL assembly locations

evaluation method

MILL CITY LITTLE FREE LIBRARY

Designer: Studio Outside Q: How did the relationship between you, the designers and the steward impact the design of the Little Free Library and the success of the project?

A: It was an extremely integral part of the entire process. To be honest, I have to admit that we walked into this project with a few pre-conceived ideas and concepts about our general approach. However, after meeting with our steward, Alendra Lyons, we realized that this project had much more potential than we originally thought. Through several conversations, Alendra shared with us her future plans for the site and overall community, and therefore was definitely a huge driving factor in our decision making throughout the design process. This communication opened the door to possibilities and purposes for the LFL that went beyond the original scope. We now understood this particular LFL to be the first phase of an overall master plan, a future community garden. We suddenly had other goals to achieve such as community interest, establishing a feeling of entry, future infrastructure and layout, etc. This resulted in a much more interesting, dynamic and, might I add, successful design idea, concept and finished product!

Q: How did participating in this community based project influence your ongoing work?

A: This experience has spurred a larger internal conversation in our office and, as a result, we have decided to start a community focused initiative. We are still in the process of figuring out just what this means, but we will be pursuing more community oriented projects in the future.

STORIES

dallas geographies the project occured simultaneously in two geographies

build partnerships

organizing planning ORGANIZING A LITERACY AND COMMUNITY DESIGN INITIATIVE south dallas/fair park define geography establish roles create materials

designing building

lincoln & madison high school

west dallas

literacy & place making

The organizing effort for the Little Free Libraries/Libros pinkston high schoolLibres initiative occurred on several scales; first, the partnership of three organizations; second, the recruitment of stewards, hosts, and designers for the libraries; third, the coordination of communal build and installation days; and,the continued distribution of books to stewards on an as needed basis.

To overcome the challenges of parallel activities and many moving parts the three partners each focused on a specific aspect of the project. Breaking up tasks by organizational expertise and resources leveraged pair designer & steward the work of each party and built a stronger final product. designer engage with local community final design

designer recruitment

site specific design & planning

share with communities

In the community that all parties were aware of their peer design review personal outreach meeting phase of the project it was vital to make sure strengthen design community community design meeting roles and expectations for their participation in the project.

For stewards and hosts this was a commitment organizational outreach quality control broad community input & ideas to: designer attendorientation community design meetings; work with the designers to share needs and constraints for the general design activities interest library;generate secure permission to install the library; help construct the library; and, maintain the buildlibrary & install for a minimum of one year after confirm installation.

Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres designers design > peer design review > refinement present design to steward

steward recruitment

stock with books

a build day for their community. confirm stewards Each steward/host was matched with a designer to complete a Little FreeplanLibrary organize community & site permissions outreach Thepersonal organizers; Big Thought, [bc], and the Dallas Public Library, agreed to support each library through the stewardship review and approve design community meetings identify & get permission for site design and construction phase and for the first year after installation.

Support includes advising on repairs continue education & outreach generate interest ensure access to books if needed, promoting the library and hosts, supplying books, and steward ensuring that stewards have the needed evaluate outcomes education register Little Free Library resources and skills to make their library a success. outreach & engagement strategies tools for literacy

team

planning meetings

arts based education community design literacy locations

community meetings

design meetings

build day

celebrate & steward

project overview presentation recruitement materials process maps refreshments

project overview presentation recruitement materials design review space design activities refreshments

LFL assembly locations coffee, dounts, & lunch shared tools & power technical assistance safety & coordination books

evaluation method books educational tools technical assistance safety & coordination celebration party

dallas west library mlk library

dallas west library mlk library bcWORKSHOP

Lakewest YMCA Full City Rooseter individual sites

installed LFLs neighborhoods partner organizations

literacy planning

organizing

designing

building

LFL/Libros Libres place making

ORGANIZING

WEST DALLAS LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES/LIBROS LIBRES

1

AVANCE LFL 3122 Tumalo Tr Aurora & Ivan Badillo designer: Mr. Alejandro Fernandez

5

Readers2Leaders LFL 2223 Singleton Blvd Readers2Leaders designer: ArtCon, Rick Fontenot

2

Turning and Learning 2500 Lone Star Dr Jerome McNeil Detention Center designer: RTKL

6

Helado Stories 3603 N. Winnetka Ave Vecinos Unidos, Inc, Rosa Lopez designer: Maggie Winter

3

Field of Dreams 3737 Goldman Ave Lakewest Family YMCA, JaMonica Washington designers: Leo Gonzalez & Scott Taylor

7

VMLC LFL 1018 Gallagher St VMLC-West Dallas, Catlin Whatley designer: Gray Garmon

4

Dallas Habitat Kiosk 2800 N. Hampton Rd Dallas Habitat for Humanity designer: Dan Finnell

3 1

5

2

6 7 4

SOUTH DALLAS/FAIR PARK LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES/LIBROS LIBRES

1

Bookhaven 1738 Gano St Vogel Alcove, Stephanie Chandler designer: Huitt-Zollars

2

Food for Thought 1610 S. Malcolm X Blvd CitySquare Opportunity Center designer: Rachel Mattes & Lauren Gaffney

3

Mill City LFL 4718 Collins Ave Mill City Neighborhood, Alendra Lyons designer: StudioOutside

4

Welcome Wall 5106 Bexar St TR Hoover Center, Sherri Mixon designer: Roger Mainor

5

MLK Center LFL 2922 MLK, Jr. Blvd Alpha Thomas & Diana O’Connor designer: Melanie Wood

2

3

1 5

4

THE DESIGN PROCESS

Organizers, stewards and designers of Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres participated in 4 meetings to ensure high quality, community informed design, with a particular emphasis on community accountability: an introductory meeting/social; a community charrette; a peer design review; and a community design review:

• Introductory meeting/social at bcWORKSHOP - introduced designers to the project and each other; reviewed expectations and schedule; and answered questions.

• Community charrette at MLK & Dallas West Libraries - designers worked, individually,with community members on a series of activities that explored the possibilities for designing Little Free Libraries that provide high quality, sustainable design, and meet the vision and requirements of the community, reflect its history, and interpret its architectural or natural heritage.

• Peer design critique at bcWORKSHOP - designers presented their concepts and designs to each other in an open forum critiqued each other’s work and offered criticism on the design’s overall quality, concept, feasibility, durability, and contextual relevance.

• Steward and community design review - stewards and community members were given time to review the designs and offer feedback. Designers met with the stewards to discuss the specific community design.

The designers were instructed that final designs must promote a culture of reading, be able to be constructed/assembled by the community (with assistance from the designer), withstand the elements (if they will be outdoors indefinitely), be durable, and reflect the community in which they will be installed.

All designs were required go through the peer and community review process and be approved by the steward.

A primary objective of the Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres project was to build connections between local designers interested in community informed design projects and socially responsible design.

Professionals were invited to participate in an innovative community project that could further their profession and bring design services to communities that might not otherwise have access to them.

DESIGNING

FIELD OF DREAMS AT THE LAKEWEST YMCA

Designers: Leo Gonzales & Scott Taylor Q: Why did you participate?

A: I believe it’s important to showcase the impact that design can have on our daily lives. The more people get exposed to things and places that have been specifically designed and get the impact first hand, the more we will change our culture to be one that values and expects design in their daily lives. Finally, on a personal level, I cherished the opportunity to work at a scale that I don’t normally have the opportunity to work at in my day to day. I did not have to hand the project off to a contractor for execution, but actually got to work through the construction process myself.

Q: How did participating in the project influence your ongoing work?

A: I think that every time I finish a project there is something that stays with me as a learning experience, and the YMCA LFL was not the exception. The collaboration between all entities proved that what seemed like a long shot actually can get done. Having so many different interests represented (from big organizations like Big Thought and the Dallas Public Library, to LFL and bcWORKSHOP, to the YMCA and the actual users of the Little Free Library) was a big challenge, but an inclusive process allowed for all parties to be represented and feel ownership of the project.

Steward: JaMonica Washington Q: How did the relationship between you and the designers impact the design of the LFL and the success of the project?

A: The Lakewest staff developed a great relationship with the designers. The designers, Scott and Leo, were positive and open to our thoughts and ideas. We expressed to the designers that we wanted a multiuse library for youth and older adults. The designers created a library that is welcoming for all and is used daily. Every time I go out to the library I can see the energy and passion of both Scott and Leo that was put into the design of what is now a resource for the West Dallas community.

Q: What has the impact of the LFL been in the YMCA and how the entrance way is used?

A: Before the Little Free Library, the entrance to the YMCA was plain and not welcoming. The LFL has brought life to the front of the building. The LFL has received enormous amount of support. The LFL is frequently used by all; from clients visiting Parkland Women’s clinic, Lakewest police store front, West Dallas residents and the Lakewest YMCA members. The Lakewest YMCA’s LFL has received several book donations from Big Thought, Half Price Books, and the Dallas Public Library. All of the donations are special and greatly appreciated, but the most special are the book donations from our members, the parents and community. Our parents have made a commitment to never let the library in their community go empty.

Since the opening day of the LFL we have received books weekly

STORIES

restore - office lobby - tax aide

DALLAS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY KIOSK

The LFL for the Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity office is tasked with addressing a number of opportunities. The library will need to be movable between various interior locations within the Dallas Area Habitat offices and Re-store.

It will need to be dynamic, just like its benefactor.

Image capture: Mar 2012

North Hampton Road

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Š 2014 Google

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Made from a common household vernacular pallet, the double-sided library will service all of the constituents and recipients doing business with Dallas Area Habitat. Our goal is to create a LFL that not only physically resides at the Dallas Area Habitat office but that can be replicated within all of the Habitat neighborhoods.

Dallas Habitat Office and Store - 2800 N. Hampton Rd. TURNING AND LEARNING

The steward for this LFL opportunity is looking for a way to naturally entice students to read and interact with books. The LFL needed to be dynamic and unique so that it captivates the students’ attention. The turning form and the accent color create a dynamic LFL that is fun to interact with but can also be seen from all points of view in the classroom.

The LFL was is conceived as a variety of components that can be independently built, in order to later allow students and teachers to assemble it on site.

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Jerome McNeil Detention Center - 2500 Lone Star Dr

WEST DALLAS

cap shelf |

FIELD OF DREAMS

Nestled under a canopy of crape myrtles and against the building façade, the library is envisioned as a destination: a place to read, a place to rest, a place to wait, a place to interact. Its design takes playful cues from the athletic activities associated with the YMCA, evoking elements of the sport’s world through its materiality. We envision children reading books while sitting or lying on the grass either in groups or individually. A second rectangle, a wooden bench similar to those found in locker rooms, provides adult users with a place to sit, rest, wait and read. The third element is a rectangular box which will serve as a secure place to house the books.

The combination of seating arrangements and uses are endless, allowing for solitary reading or story-time in a group setting. The library also provides a much-needed place to wait for a ride or take a break under the shade. Ultimately, though, the library is meant to literacy through cross-generational interaction.

Lakewest Family YMCA - 3737 Goldman Ave AVANCE - DALLAS LFL

AVANCE, a local non-profit that strengthens families in at-risk communities through effective parent education and support programs. An AVANCE staff member volunteered to host and steward a little free library at her home, seeing it as a way to reinforce AVANCE’s work and to bring literacy resources to her neighborhood.

The library was designed and built by a parent in one of AVANCE’s programs with help from community members. It is sited next to a bus stop and near a busy neighborhood park. The LFL is designed to look like a school bus, delivering books children and adults.

3122 Tumalo Trail

WEST DALLAS

READERS 2 LEADERS LFL

Readers2Leaders works with children in West Dallas to help develop their reading and language skills and encourages parents to read to and with their children. Their organization is excited about the modern design of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and the impact it’s having on design and renovations stretching down Singleton Blvd to their offices.

Our design allows for both paperbacks and larger children’s hardcover books and includes books placed low enough for even the youngest to browse. Our visual concept of the library is a minimalist interpretation of skewed book stacks. We’re planning to use a crisp white exterior finish within the context of the architectural bridge, but add color to the interior of shelf cutouts for contrast as books run low. For signage we decided to aim for a quick bright way to inform passersby how to use the library, i.e., encourage swapping rather than just taking books.

Readers2Leader - 2223 Singleton Blvd HELADO STORIES

The office of Vecinos Unidos is in a unique location to capture the imaginations of its neighbors. Many years of community development and engagement have produced a broad spectrum of activities for Vecinos Unidos to be proud of, and they can now add a Little Free Library to that list!

Some of the goals for the organization and Little Free Library are: 1) to provide opportunities for neighbors (especially kids) to find a resting place along with a good read, 2) to act as signage/ point of interest/invitation for traffic passing by, 3) to continue to promote a relationship with the developing Trinity River and Levee Trails, and 4) have fun.

The design and construction of this ‘paletera’ library seeks to incorporate some of the bright minds and hands that have already helped Vecinos Unidos with muraling and community events.

Vecinos Unidos, Inc. - 3603 N Winnetka Ave

WEST DALLAS

BOOKHAVEN

The playful, child-oriented themed library was inspired by the colors and murals of the newly renovated Vogel Alcove building and playgrounds, as well as the foundation logo. Trees, birds and birdhouses are reflected in the collection of book ‘shelves’ which are located at various heights in the ‘tree’ to serve all sizes of children and adults, reflecting the many services that the foundation offers to homeless families.

The goal of the design is to provide an inviting and attractive Little Free Library that will encourage clients, staff and the surrounding community to take advantage of the free books offered there. It is hoped that children will use the books to improve their reading skills and expand their imagination. Adults can take books to read to their children, practice their reading skills and vocabulary, or just enjoy for themselves. Sharing a good story encourages parents to spend quality time with their children and provides a perfect opportunity for growth and bonding.

Vogle Alcove - 1738 Gano St MLK CENTER LFL

The Irma Rangel School and MLK Community Center are located in the heart of South Dallas. The design of this Little Free Library is inspired by Ghanaian Adinkra symbols, important in the South Dallas African American community as a means of connecting with many of the residents’ cultural heritage. Each symbol represents a concept – here, nkyinkyim represents initiative, an idea central to developing a love of reading. The symbol derives from the Akan word for twisting, which also speaks to the library’s location at the intersection of many paths and different groups of people visiting the MLK Center, providing an opportunity to start a conversation.

The twisting shelves hold books at two levels to be easily accessible to both adults and children. The inside of each shelf is brightly painted to invite people to browse through the books.

Four steel pipes tie the shelves together and anchor the library to the ground.

NKYINKYIM from the Akan word meaning "twisting", this Adinkra symbol represents initiative, dynamism and versatility

NKYINKYIM from the Akan word meaning "twisting", this Adinkra symbol represents initiative, dynamism and versatility

MLK Center - 2922 MLK Jr. Blvd

SOUTH DALLAS /FAIR PARK

WELCOME WALL

The T.R. Hoover Center provides a wide range of services and programs for the community surrounding Bexar Street in southern Dallas, and this Little Free Library aims to draw more attention to the Center itself. In addition to offering free books to the children and adults who frequent the Center, the library emboldens the street facade by introducing bright, strong colors to an otherwise neutral material palette.

The simple wood slats weave in and out of the Center’s black, wrought iron gate at the front entrance, creating pockets and folds to store the books and other items the Center may want to share. At first, only the folds on the interior of the gate will be used with the intention of expanding to those outside the gate in the future. The slats, connected with metal bolts at the joints, will be painted and assembled on-site by community members.

Once installed, the library will be a new facade and signage for the Center, welcoming all those who visit.

TR Hoover Center - 5106 Bexar St MILL CITY LFL

The library’s site is a vacant lot that sits just next door to the stewards home on Collins Ave. Her vision for this property is for it to eventually become an active and viable community garden.

Mill City is a very active neighborhood, and Alendra’s goal is to engage members of the community by giving them a safe and engaging space to hang out, read, and learn about gardening.

Mill City is comprised mainly of single-family residences, and historically a home sat on the proposed lot. All that remains there now are some concrete steps and a few trees. Realizing potential in these existing structures, we decided to place our LFL at the top and just to the side of the stair, creating a “front porch feel”. The goal of the design is that the library will serve multiple functions, first as a free book exchange for the community, and second as a ‘Phase One’ of the main entrance to the future community garden. Our hope is that this small project will further spur neighborhood interest and involvement as this community initiative moves forward.

4718 Collins Ave

SOUTH DALLAS/FAIR PARK

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

We are excited to design and build a Little Free Library for the new CitySquare Opportunity Center. The library will be located near the food pantry, kids’ area and café, and hold both adult and children’s books. The library design incorporates a farmers’ market theme and bright, harvest colors. The structure will be built from reused shipping pallets, holding wooden crates used to store and organize the books and kid’s games. Stop by the food pantry to feed your body, and stop by the Little Free Library to feed your mind!

CitySquare Opportunity Center - 1610 S Malcolm X Blvd

SOUTH DALLAS /FAIR PARK

FOOD FOR THOUGHT AT THE CITY SQUARE OPPORTUNITY CENTER

Designers: Rachel Mattes & Lauren Gaffney Q: How did the location/program influence the design? Is it designed to link healthy food with healthy reading habits?

A: Our LFL design is influenced by its location within the Opportunity Center’s food pantry building.

Working with the food program of the space, we developed a Farmers Market design rooted in warm materials, inviting colors, and an easily transportable structure. The brand new building has a cool, clean aesthetic; our aim is to warm it up with a reclaimed shipping pallet frame and bright harvest colors. While the healthy food/literacy link was not our initial intent, we do appreciate that connection; hopefully, healthy diets and literacy increase together.

Q: How has working on this community oriented project influenced how you approach your work on a daily basis?

A: Working on a community oriented project has reinforced for us the importance of site sensitive design and exposed us to community involvement as an important process for design. In addition to the community oriented nature of the project, the design/build aspect of the process has also influenced us.

Our daily work is in a traditional architecture setting, designing on paper to be built by others. Designing and building the Little Free Library has reconnected us with materials and constructability in a way that can improve our design process from start to finish.

Q: As young designers, what is the importance of working on a project like this for you?

A: We are both new to Dallas. Working directly with CitySquare in South Dallas and learning about other neighborhoods through the many other Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres locations has helped us become more familiar with Dallas’ many different communities and become more rooted in the city. Working with community members and the other LFL designers, we have been able to witnesses the power of design as a tool at work in the Dallas community.

STORIES

BOOKHAVE AT VOGEL ALCOVE

Steward: Stephanie Chandler Q: How did the relationship between you and the designers impact the design of the LFL and the success of the project?

A: I was immediately impressed with the thoughtfulness and investment into the project displayed by an entire team at Huitt-Zollars. They spent a significant amount of time at the center, learning about the program, community and families served by homeless shelters.

Q: How did the broader Vogel Alcove community participate in the design and construction of the LFL? A: I initially sent an email to the case managers and staff at Vogel informing them of the project and requesting ideas. I brought those ideas to our first design meeting and Huitt-Zollars was able to incorporate the ideas into each design. When I received the design options we posted them in front of the building and allowed people to vote for their favorite. Huitt-Zollars also made tons of copies so every child and family had the opportunity to color and add their own suggestions and designs which were reviewed and used for the final design.

Q: What has the impact of the LFL been at Vogel Alcove and how has the use of the space it occupies changed?

A: The library has become a focus point for people in our corner of the community. The library is a meeting place for people waiting to access the Parkland Med van as well as for people waiting at the public bus stop. Most recently, with children going back to school on a daily basis, a full 30 minutes before the center opens or DISD school buses arrive parents and children are spread out around the library reading.

On a weekly basis we have regular volunteers from the community making sure the books are organized, another group has offered to build benches to accommodate our readers.

I believe the long term impact will be in the continued use of the library. We have strong volunteer support that has demonstrated commitment to the organization and book donations to the library. The families we serve as well as the surrounding neighborhood has embraced the library and utilize it on a daily basis.

The library has become an important part of serving children and families by enhancing literacy as well as creating a sense of community.

STORIES

BUILD DAY

An important part of the process of designing and making Little Free Libraries/Libres Libros is physically building the book exchanges themselves. The act of communally putting together the pieces, painting and decorating, and filling the libraries with books is as essential to this community based project as the initial planning meetings and design collaborations. It ties community members to the libraries and roots the libraries in the communities, fostering ownership and pride amongst those that helped cut, hammer, screw, paint, and fill each shelf with books.

Project partners are responsible for securing the building locations, providing shared tools and supervision of their use, and feeding stewards, designers, and volunteers as they worked throughout the day.

BUILDING

WHERE CAN I LOOK FOR HELP?

The Little Free Library concept - take a book, leave a book - is new for most people. It is important that you conduct activities and programs to promote your LFL and sustain its use. The Little Free Library website has lots of great ideas:

• www.littlefreelibrary.org/stewards-friends/treasurechest • www.littlefreelibrary.org/stewards-friends/how-to-information

Other suggestions for activities are:

• Give away books at a nearby school or community center and encourage kids to read that book and then visit your LFL to exchange it for a new one. This will expose them to the LFL and provide a starter book to allow for the true exchange process to begin

• Have a volunteer sit at your LFL during peak traffic hours to explain the “take a book, leave a book” concept and help people make a selection

• To Conduct a family literacy reading day to highlight your LFL and enjoy literacy-based activities • Spread the word about the LFL as a community resource: hand out fliers, put a note in a community or neighborhood newsletter, or make an announcement at a community meeting • Host a picnic or potluck around the LFL and ask your neighbors to get involved or donate books

If your LFL does not already have signage and you wish to add some (such as “Free Books” or “Take One, Leave One”), feel free to do so to encourage people to use it! As you monitor book activity, identify the need for additional books.

Here are ways to receive more books:

• Conduct a book drive through local businesses, community partners, or neighborhood families • Coordinate a book swap at a local school or community center • Pick up books at Half-Price Books using their donation request form: www.hpb.com/donationrequests (for organizations only)

RESOURCES

www.lfldallas.org lfldallas@gmail.com

www.bigthought.org 1409 South Lamar Street, Suite 1015, Dallas, TX 75215 (214) 520-0023 info@bigthought.org www.bcworkshop.org 416 S Ervay Street, Dallas, TX 75201 (214) 252-2900 inform@bcworkshop.org www.dallaslibrary2.org 1515 Young Street Dallas, TX 75201 (214) 670-1400 askalibrarian@dallaslibrary.org

CONTACT

DESIGN YOUR OWN LIBROS LIBRES COLORING BOOK

PLEASE, DRAW OUTSIDE THE BOX

DESIGN YOUR OWN LIBROS LIBRES COLORING BOOK

PLEASE, DRAW OUTSIDE THE BOX

www.lfldallas.org lfldallas@gmail.com