What Do We Have Here?

I was checkin' out my Little Free Library, when...

Hey!

There's a Little Free Library label on this book,

but it's not my address!

I know there are other Little Free Libraries in my city,

but this address was not familiar.

So I headed over, and look what I found!

Isn't it cool?

Of course, I dropped off a book,

(and my card)...

... and picked up a book to take home.

Score!

A hardback copy of Stink!

If you're in the neighborhood,

check it out!

Sweet!

Came home,

and... what's this?

Why, it's a gift from some of my Little Free Library patrons!

Awwwww!!!

The Incredible (Book) Journey

So this showed up in the mail...

It was a book I had added to my Little Free Library, 

and had been sent from a public library a town over.

I put my address on the label so people could find their way back,

but it was nice that a book did.

And while I know this mailing stamp probably means

the package has been sent from a library...

... I'm choosing to believe it means it was sent to a library.

Because it was.

Another Request!

There's been another request with my Little Free Library!

Fortunately, both books were available for just

fifty cents each at my local 

Friends of the Library Used Bookstore.

However...

for the third time,

I haven't had luck actually getting my patrons to pick up their books.

What's a library lady gotta do,

stake out the library with some surveillance gear?

Cuties!

Look at these cuties!

They stopped off at my Little Free Library, 

found some books,

and dropped off some "bookworm" bookmarks.

Aren't they adorable?

This is why I do this!!

Tell Me What You Neeeeed!

As I wrote before, I loooove getting feedback

for my Little Free Library.

BUT, so far, I haven't received everything I hoped for.

Do you see my blank notes?

Do you see what I've labelled these blank notes?

Yes, I asked for "Questions, Comments and REQUESTS."

So far, I've only had one (unsuccessful) verbal request.

But, today!

Along with a nice comment...

...was a request!!

Yaaaaay!!!

Although I didn't have the book (and it was out of print) ...

... Amazon had it used for a penny plus shipping.

(Please don't tell me that Amazon is awful.

I need it like I need oxygen and yogurt.)

Aaaanyway, now that the book is on the way,

how do I let my patron know?

Hmmmm...

Why don't I just put up a note?

Yup, that should do it!

Now, fingers crossed that my patron returns!

The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Books

And just who is this fine trio of ladies?

Why, it's the Simi Valley Sisterhood of the Traveling Books!

I went to Lisa's (0n the right) opening of

her new Little Free Library today,

and all three of us Simi stewards were on hand for the event.

If you're interested in swinging by,

Nikki (in the middle) and my (on the left) libraries are on the map;

Lisa's should be soon.

Check us out!

ETA:  Nikki took a flattering picture of me in front of my library;
I'm nice and smiley:

Famous!

Please, please, everyone... no photos.

Yes, I know I'm famous.

But just because I'm Internet Famous in my local newspaper...

... it doesn't mean I want to be ambushed by the paparazzi.

Yes, a year after my Little Free Library first opened,

I finally made my tiny local newspaper.

I've really enjoyed my time as a Little Free Library Steward;

the best part has probably been the feedback I've received:

A Goosebumps fan.

I didn't find this till a couple of weeks ago!

I need to check inside the books more often.

"I love it cause it makes me happy

when they play and I like playing to[o]."

Aww.  Little heart.

HA!  This cracks me up.

So, happy birthday, Little Free Library.

Here's to another year of sharing books!

I Like You, Too, Library Patron!

I've written before about my Little Free Library:

It's been chugging along nicely,

with books going out and back in with a satisfying regularity.

One thing that has not been happening, however,

is written feedback in the books.

In the front of each book I put a book pocket and card...

... with a bossy demand friendly request to leave feedback.

So far? 

But then!

This book came back!

And inside it?

The most awesome feedback that ever feedbacked!

Bless her heart.

(Literally.  She drew a little heart in the top right corner.)

So I guess I'll keep gluing pockets in the front of the books,

and hope for more notes from my Little Free Library patrons.

Because hearing back from folks who have read a book?

It's a special kind of book magic.

Library To The Rescuuuuuuue!

So.  Like I said.

I'm back in school.

But it's spring break! 

Wooooo!!!

However, I'm not spending it boozing or showing off my bosoms.

Instead, I'm catching up on my blog!

Woooooo!!

Anyhoo, today I'm talking about teaching.

Specifically, teaching supplies.

A lovely new teacher came to one of my teaching classes last week,

and explained that when she got to her brand-new classroom 

at the beginning of the year?

It was empty.

And when I say "empty," I mean
e-m-p-t-y.

She wasn't just in charge of getting cutesy stuff for her bulletin boards...

...she also had to somehow wrangle her own dictionaries.

She told us how she's been getting items through Donor's Choose,

but that's crazy, right?

Having to depend on the kindness of strangers
for basic teaching supplies?

Let me tell you,
when folks say that education's problems can't be solve by

 "throwing money at it,"

I roll my eyes Liz Lemon-style so hard it's a wonder they don't

fall out of my head.

So, yeah.  I've started amassing supplies now for my future classroom.

I hit the sales and dollar bin at Target,

but the best source of classroom books?

The used bookstore in my local library!

Just look at what I've found!

I found some sweet Golden Books for my Little Free Library...

... some nonfiction, poetry, and a cool dragon "handbook"...

... Calvin and Hobbes! Yay!!!

Both old friends...

... and new.

  
Crazy bargains, like these books on tape for FIFTY CENTS EACH...

... and these pristine, hardback copies of the My Father's Dragon trilogy.

The one on the right?
One dollar.
The one on the left?

FIFTY CENTS.

Look what they originally cost!

And yep, I even found some class dictionaries in excellent condition,
ranging in price from fifty cents to a measly three dollars.

SCORE!!

Bottom line:  I don't have the patience to spend my weekends
 combing yard sales for bargains for my house.

But when it comes to my future classroom?
I'm happy to visit the library used bookstore weekly.
Because, as any teacher knows: