How to Make a Free Little Library

In January, I was trying to do 25 DIY projects. Well- I did 24. This free little library is the last project from this series. It took a little longer than I planned, but I think it was worth the wait!

If you haven’t heard of free little libraries- they are cabinets made by homeowners and put outside their homes that are filled with books. This is a fun way to embrace a love of reading and foster a sense of community. I LOVE everything free little libraries stand for! Plus, they’re a great way to creatively make something that will benefit your neighbors!

The first little library was built in 2009 and since then over 75,000 public book exchanges have popped up and are registered here. For $39 you can get a plaque with a registration number if your build your own library.

inspiration

One cool thing about free little libraries is that they are all located on a map here! Which makes it really easy to find all the local mini book exchanges. On a Sunday a few weeks ago, my family and I drove around visiting all that are local to us. I snapped a photo of each one so I could reference them for inspiration later.

This was a fun way to get excited about the project and see some cute details that are unique to each one. I’d definitely recommend this activity if you want to make a free little library too.

I really like the gold decal on the first one. The fifth one matches its home- which is super cute! And on the last one, the library is built from an old microwave! I thought that was creative! I was inspired by the base on that one too.

how to make a free little library

Let’s start with the video tutorial so you get an overview on what I did. Then, I’ll dive in with more details below

If the video doesn’t work here, you can watch it on YouTube here. P.s. I’m trying to build that page up, so if you’d subscribe, I’d really appreciate that!

SUPPLIES

cabinet (mine was taken out of my kitchen for open shelving). Try Habitat for Humanity for one if you don’t have a cabinet on hand
outdoor paint (I used beloved pink and ultra pure white)
shiplap
shingles (we had some on hand- these are similar)
roofing nails
brass hardware pulls
wallpaper (in Tropical color way)
outside corner molding
decorative onlay
beadboard
2x4x8 studs– we used 2
4x4x8 cedar posts– we used 2
screws
plywood– we use less than 1 sheet
brass plaque (if you choose not to register your little library)

Note, we tried to use items we had at our house that were leftovers from other projects. Both to be economical and good to the planet. The cabinet, outdoor paint, shiplap, shingles, pulls, wallpaper, headboard, screws, and plywood we already had on hand. I’d suggest trying to use items you already have too!

step 1

Start by painting your base cabinet with outdoor paint. I used Beloved pink here. To paint this old kitchen cabinet, I used the same steps outlined in my tutorial for how to paint cabinets with latex paint. Clean the cabinet, tape off the glass, prime, and then paint a few coats of the latex paint.

step 2

Next, make the base for the little library. We used cedar posts for this step and cut them to be 30″ long. Ours might be a little tall- I’d suggest going a little shorter. Then use screws to attach the legs to the cabinet. We also put cross braces in to steady the base. Since it is winter, we can’t put our post in the ground so we’re making a sturdy base so it can sit on concrete outside our house.

step 3

And now its time to work on the roof! Cut 2×4 inch studs for this step. We started by attaching pieces to the roof so we had a place to attach the trusses. Then we made the trusses by cutting the studs on a 45 degree angle and screwing them together and then to the roof. Plywood was put over both sides and then shingles were nailed onto the plywood.

step 4

Now it’s time to create the shell for the little library. The back of our kitchen cabinet was recessed so we added a back with bead board. For the gable (the triangle under the roof), we screwed on pieces of shiplap. We did the same for the base. The decorative onlay on the gable was glued on and then a screw secured it. To cover the seams on the corners of the shiplap, we used an outside corner piece of trim.

step 5

For the finish work, start by caulking every seam. You want to think about the fact that this will be sitting outside so you don’t want bugs or water to get in. I also used caulk on the plywood to smooth it out a bit to prep it for painting. Finish by painting any unpainted areas with outdoor paint. Attach the pulls to the doors of the library.

step 6

I finished out my little library by adding wallpaper on the inside. Luckily, I had scraps from my master bedroom. And that wallpaper was exactly what this piece needed! It really added the perfect finishing touch. I used wallpaper paste to adhere it. It took awhile to cut the pieces to the right size, but it was definitely worth it!

after

Here are some pictures of it all assembled while it was still in my office. We then moved it outside and grabbed some pictures! Later I filled it with books and it’s sitting outside for the neighbors to use. I’ll keep it stocked with books- I bought a variety of age ranges from my local thrift shop. Now I just need to keep it stocked.

This has been such a fun project! I love reading and that this project celebrates that. Plus this little library is 100% my style so putting it together was a joy.

After brining it outside, I filled it with books and added a brass plaque that says “Free little library. Take a book, share a book.” I got it on a memorial website since its designed to be outside (most brass plaques are meant to be inside and will weather badly outside). Its the perfect detail! It cost around $18 with shipping.

I’m happy for it to be outside and have been patiently waiting for someone to borrow a book! I started out by stocking it with titles from the thrift store for a variety of ages. Here’s hoping she weathers well!