
James P. Roberts, 58, of Madison drops off books and checks out the reading material in the Little Free Library outside of the Madison Police Department's South District police station.
James P. Roberts first noticed Madison’s proliferation of tiny libraries about five years ago, during bike rides around the city.
An avid reader and author, he was intrigued. The bookshelves were so interesting that he began noting where he saw the little libraries on a large map of Madison.
“I’ve been a book lover all my life,” Roberts said. “I used to hunt regular libraries, and this is just an extension of that.”
Madison now has more than 400 of the Little Free Library installations, by Roberts’ count. Of those, more than 200 are officially registered with the umbrella organization, which got its start here eight years ago and has grown into a nonprofit with 75,000 registered libraries in 85 countries worldwide.

1500 Rutledge St.
Todd Bol created the first little library in 2009 in the back of his garage in Hudson, a city about 243 miles northwest from Madison. He did it to honor his mother, a former schoolteacher who died in 2001. Then he had a garage sale, and people kept asking him if they could buy it.
“I built it to celebrate my mom’s life,” he said. “I had a garage sale, and people got so excited and thrilled about (the library). That excitement became a passion for me, and Madison was the first key launching point.”
He teamed up with Rick Brooks of Madison and, by 2010, the two had created Little Free Library.

The Little Free Library at Grace Episcopal Church, 116 W. Washington Ave. (South Carroll Street side, facing Capitol).
The bookshelves, often creatively decorated to reflect the stewards’ literary interests or the houses they’re in front of, are full of free books for passersby. People can take as many as they wish, and leave some books behind for the next reader who comes along. The organization says millions of books are exchanged each year.
Map filling up
With only about half of Madison’s little libraries officially registered, it can be challenging to find them all. Roberts took it upon himself to find and document their locations, and he saw his map quickly filling up. To this day, he remains the only person with a comprehensive list of Little Free Library locations in Madison.
“The idea behind it is just so wonderful — a way to bring literature to people who don’t normally have it available,” said Roberts, 58, who eventually became involved in the organization. He is now one of the group’s Facebook page administrators, along with Megan Hanson, who works in its marketing and communications unit.

James P. Roberts shows a map of Madison where he has located all of the Little Free Library locations. Roberts has been mapping the neighborhood book exchanges for five years.
One of Little Free Library’s missions is to increase book access to low-income children by providing books in neighborhoods where they are scarce. Its website cites research showing that children who grow up in homes without books are typically three years academically behind children who have books in their homes.
“The only way we’ll have a strong democracy is if we have an educated society,” Bol said. “School systems just don’t have enough resources for that, and so it’s up to neighborhoods to step it up. Little Free Library is made of people who help their neighborhoods get educated.”
Building community
The group also aims to inspire a love for reading and build a sense of community. As more libraries are built, their stewards tell stories of many people they’ve met because of them, Roberts and Hanson said.
Hanson thinks it’s because the libraries offer a way to connect.

James P. Roberts has a signed copy of the book "The Little Free Library Book" where the author, Margret Aldrich, wrote a message to him that says "To James - keep on biking!"
“Entertainment is very private, and a growing feeling of isolation in neighborhoods is part of the reason why Little Free Libraries is so appealing,” she said. “They provide a thoughtful, fun way to not only say, ‘I love books,’ but to want to share them. There’s an unspoken need (the libraries) managed to fill. That’s a really powerful thing, and I think that’s why it spread.”
As the number of libraries have increased nationally and across the world in recent years, Bol thinks much of the organization’s success stems from how quickly it took off in Madison.

Little Free Library on the Capital City Trail at 303-307 South Paterson Street in Madison.
“If we hadn’t had a success in Madison, we wouldn’t have continued,” he said.
As it’s grown over the years, Little Free Library leaders have started to look toward other ways to promote literacy. Programs include: the Impact Library Program, which leaves book-sharing boxes outside of libraries; Kids, Community & Cops, a program that helps officers and civic leaders build positive interactions with children by giving them books; and Action Book Club, a club that reads books on relevant topics and offers participants a chance to do related community service work.
Bol also hopes that more little libraries will continue to be built. He’d like to see one in every neighborhood, everywhere.
“I want to see it ignited around the world. We all do better when we all read better, and this shows that people are taking charge in their communities,” he said. “Wherever people are, there shall be books.”
110 Alden Drive

110 Alden Drive, Madison, WI 53705
2607 Stevens St.

2607 Stevens St., Madison, WI 53705
2611 Chamberlain Ave.

2611 Chamberlain Ave., Madison, WI 53705
3330 Tally Ho lane

3330 Tally Ho lane, Madison, WI 53705
4620 Frey St.

4620 Frey St., Madison, WI 53705
Shorewood Hills Elementary

Shorewood Hills Elementary, 1105 Shorewood Blvd. Madison, WI 53705. (Library on Columbia Road side of property)
840 W Lakeside St.

840 W. Lakeside St., Madison, WI 53705
3611 Sunset Drive

3611 Sunset Drive, Madison, WI 53705
3672 Lake Mendota Drive

3672 Lake Mendota Drive, Madison, WI 53705
5021 Tomahawk Trail

5021 Tomahawk Trail, Madison, WI 53705
5118 Flambeau Road

5118 Flambeau Road, Madison, WI 53705
5533 Marsha Drive

5533 Marsha Drive, Madison, WI 53705
6006 Old Middleton Road

6006 Old Middleton Road, Madison, WI 53705
5014 S. Hill Drive

5014 S. Hill Drive, Madison, WI 53705
6138 Mineral Point Road

6138 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53705
6305 Old Sauk Road

6305 Old Sauk Road, Madison, WI 53705
10 S Meadow Lane

10 S. Meadow Lane, Madison, WI 53705
2727 Marshall Court

2727 Marshall Court, Madison, WI 53705
1 S. Blackhawk Ave.

1 S. Blackhawk Ave., Madison, WI 53705
11 Court of Brixham

11 Court of Brixham, Madison, WI 53705
41 N. Yellowstone Drive

41 N. Yellowstone Drive, Madison, WI 53705
50 Merlham Drive

50 Merlham Drive, Madison, WI 53705
211 S. Whitney Way

211 S. Whitney way, Madison, WI 53705
217 N. Meadow Lane

217 N. Meadow Lane, Madison, WI 53705
218 Whitney Way

218 Whitney Way, Madison, WI 53705
226 S. Owen Drive

226 S. Owen Drive, Madison, WI 53705
253 Segoe Road

253 Segoe Road, Madison, WI 53705
344 S. Yellowstone Drive

344 S. Yellowstone Drive, Madison, WI 53705
501 Toepfer Ave.

501 Toepfer Ave., Madison, WI 53705
584 N. Midvale Blvd.

584 N. Midvale Blvd., Madison, WI 53705
605 Yosemite Place

605 Yosemite Place, Madison, WI 53705
726 N. Midvale Blvd.

726 N. Midvale Blvd., Madison, WI 53705
2829 Barlow St.

2829 Barlow St., Madison, WI 53705
2830 Van Hise Ave.

2830 Van Hise Ave., Madison, WI 53705
2880 University Ave.

2880 University Ave., Madison, WI 53705
3409 Stevens St.

3409 Stevens St., Madison, WI 53705
3530 Lucia Crest

3530 Lucia Crest, Madison, WI 53705
4301 Hillcrest Drive

4301 Hillcrest Drive, Madison, WI 53705
4337 Felton Place

4337 Felton Place, Madison, WI 53705
4805 Mineral Point Road

4805 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53705
6138 Mineral Point Road

6138 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53705
5014 S. Hill Drive

5014 S. Hill Drive, Madison, WI 53705
218 S. Whitney Way

218 S. Whitney Way, Madison, WI 53705
5122 Regent St.

5122 Regent St., Madison, WI 53705.
3723 Ross St.

3723 Ross St., Madison, WI 53706
2330 Rowley Ave.

2330 Rowley Ave., Madison, WI 53726
109 N. Roby Road

109 N. Roby Road, Madison, WI 53726
1924 Kendall Ave.

1924 Kendall Ave., Madison, WI 53726
2021 Chamberlain Ave.

2021 Chamberlain Ave., Madison, WI 53726
11 N. Allen St.

11 N. Allen St., Madison, Madison, WI 53726
Want to see your little library in this gallery?
To submit your library, please email a photo and address (including zip code) to wsjeditor@madison.com or share it with the Wisconsin State Journal on Facebook.
116 W. Washington Ave.

The Little Free Library at Grace Episcopal Church, 116 W. Washington Ave. (South Carroll Street side, facing Capitol).
116 W. Washington Ave.

The Little Free Library at Grace Episcopal Church, 116 W. Washington Ave. (South Carroll Street side, facing Capitol).
303-307 S. Paterson St.

Little Free Library on the Capital City Trail at 303-307 South Paterson Street in Madison.
303-307 S. Paterson St.

Little Free Library on the Capital City Trail at 303-307 S. Paterson St. in Madison.
1 N. Pinckney St.

Little Free Library inside the American Family DreamBank building at 1 N. Pinckney St.
1 N. Pinckney St.

A Little Free Library resides just inside the American Family DreamBank building at 1 North Pinckney Street.
405-407 E. Wilson St.

Little Free Library at Crowley Station Community Garden, 405-407 E. Wilson St.
405-407 E. Wilson St.

Little Free Library at Crowley Station Community Garden, 405/407 E. Wilson St.
413 S. Dickinson St.

Little Free Library at 413 S. Dickinson St.
413 S. Dickinson St.

John Coleman picks out a book from the Little Free Library at 413 S. Dickinson St. Coleman and his son built the library, and his wife, Becky Abel, stocks it with books.
451 N. Few St.

Little Free Library at 451 N. Few St.
451 N. Few St.

Anne Katz and her husband, David Wallner, look at books in the Little Free Library at their home at 451 N. Few St. in Madison.
609 S. Few St.

Little Free Library at 609 S. Few St. in Madison.
609 S. Few St.

Gregory White finds a book in the Little Free Library at 609 S. Few Street in Madison, as Lauren Barlow helps him decide.
1049 E. Gorham St.

People bike by the Little Free Library at 1049 E. Gorham St.
1049 E. Gorham St.

Little Free Library at 1049 E. Gorham St.
1252 N. Sherman Ave.

Little Free Library at 1252 N. Sherman Ave.
1252 N. Sherman Ave.

Little Free Library at 1252 N. Sherman Avenue.
1330 Morrison St.

Little Free Library at 1330 Morrison St.
1330 Morrison St.

Little Free Library at 1330 Morrison St.
1339 E. Dayton St.

Little Free Library at 1339 E. Dayton St.
1339 E. Dayton St.

Little Free Library at 1339 E. Dayton St.
1500 Rutledge St.

Little Free Library at 1500 Rutledge St. in Madison.
1500 Rutledge St.

1500 Rutledge St.
1505 Morrison St.

Little Free Library at 1505 Morrison St.
1505 Morrison St.

Little Free Library at 1505 Morrison St.
Broom Street at John Nolen Drive

Little Free Library at entrance to Brittingham Dog Park, along Broom Street at John Nolen Drive.
Broom Street at John Nolen Drive

Little Free Library at entrance to Brittingham Dog Park, along Broom Street at John Nolen Drive.
1124 Colby St.

1124 Colby St., Madison, WI 53715
1127 Haywood Drive

1127 Haywood Drive, Madison, WI 53715
21 N. Park St.

21 N. Park St., Madison, WI 53715
29 S. Mills St.

29 S. Mills St., Madison, WI 53715
801 S. Braxton St.

801 Braxton St., Madison, WI 53715
1225 Regent St.

1225 Regent St., Madison, WI 53715
2525 Gregory St.

2525 Gregory St., Madison, WI 53715
1008 Emerald St.

1008 Emerald St., Madison, WI 53715
1332 Chandler St.

1332 Chandler St., Madison, WI 53715
1124 Colby St.

1124 Colby St., Madison, WI 53715 (Woodland Montessori School).