February Update: 631 down, 2000 to go

It’s been a little over three months since I put the first four (out of 2,631) books into a Little Free Library in Boulder (December 2024), just over two months since the first postcard was returned. Today, I’m pleased to share that the first 631 books are now out in the world!

The optimist in me wants to celebrate this milestone, but the pessimist in me recognizes that we’re really only 1/5th of the way through and there are still shelves and shelves of books that still need to be catalogued, stamped, postcarded, distributed, etc.

Regardless, I thought I would use this milestone to share what I have learned through this process so far.

I enjoy constantly iterating on the process. Here’s an example:

V1: A handwritten note stuck inside a book with a postcard

V2: A sticker on the inside front cover with instructions so that the project can last beyond the first person who finds a book and uses the postcard.

V3: A sticker on the inside cover (now with a bright orange border) and a sticker on the FRONT of the book that says, “You’ve found one of Betsy’s Books! Look inside for a story and a postcard!”

V4: A sticker on the inside cover, a BOOKMARK stuck in the middle of the book along with the postcard. TBD on the sticker on the front moving forward.

The value of this project will not be measured by the number of postcards returned.

Don’t get me wrong - getting postcards back is definitely a thrill! But what has been far more rewarding is the conversations that I get to have with people about the project, the dozens of offers to help distribute books, and the little community that is growing online through TikToks and Instagram.

Distributing books is so much fun!

Hunting for Little Free Libraries is such a unique way to spend an afternoon. It allows you to explore different neighborhoods, and you never know what you might see or find along the way. Having recently inherited my mom’s car, I love nothing more than loading it up with books, picking up a friend, opening the Little Free Library app, and hitting the road.

Onward!