Imagine finding a lending library in your local park, grocery store parking lot--or even at the end of your street. Little Free Libraries, the brainchild of two Wisconsin entrepreneurs, are tiny, freestanding containers that can hold a small number of books, anywhere from five to two dozen volumes.
Each Little Free Library can be slightly different. Todd Bol and Rick Brooks designed the first one to look like an old-fashioned one-room schoolhouse. Dedicated to Bol's mother, it is located just a few blocks from the Hudson, Wis., riverfront. But while the actual libraries are so cute they're almost twee, they have a very serious purpose behind them. The men want to help communities worldwide increase access to books, raise literacy--and surpass famed magnate Andrew Carnegie's record of building 2,509 free libraries.
We haven't been so charmed by a project in years. We also want one of these for the Shelf Awareness neighborhood. Fortunately, that's entirely possible: on the site, Bol and Brooks not only sell plans so that you can build your own Little Free Library, but offer premade models and sponsorship opportunities, as well.
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You've probably seen the swank BookBook, which was originally designed for MacBook laptop computers, and expanded to iPad cases, too. BookBook cases are made of leather and crafted to resemble early modern book spines.
Until now, the BookBook was not available for the smallest of Apple products, the iPhone--but designers Twelve South have just unveiled the perfect accessory to make your own portable device look just like an ancient one.