Little Free Library for Dummies
July 23, 2015 3:48 PM Subscribe
Where can I find the simplest possible instructions for building a Little Free Library, from wood, from scratch?
I am an elementary school teacher and I got the idea that I'd like to engage my students in a service learning project next year by building a Little Free Library for the school. I'd like to keep costs low and have the children be engaged in the building as much as possible and possibly solicit donations from local hardware stores for the supplies.
I am extremely unhandy and wanted to see how to find the simplest, most user friendly step by step guide possible. I thought I'd do a trial run this summer by building one to go in front of my home. The plans I'm seeing, like here call for angled cuts in the wood. I don't have a saw. Is this something that Lowes would do for me? Where can you find the "for dummies" versions of plans for these? I don't want to buy a kit, just to have very broken down instructions. I checked the Little Free Library website, but none of the blueprints break it down sufficiently enough that I could execute it.
I am an elementary school teacher and I got the idea that I'd like to engage my students in a service learning project next year by building a Little Free Library for the school. I'd like to keep costs low and have the children be engaged in the building as much as possible and possibly solicit donations from local hardware stores for the supplies.
I am extremely unhandy and wanted to see how to find the simplest, most user friendly step by step guide possible. I thought I'd do a trial run this summer by building one to go in front of my home. The plans I'm seeing, like here call for angled cuts in the wood. I don't have a saw. Is this something that Lowes would do for me? Where can you find the "for dummies" versions of plans for these? I don't want to buy a kit, just to have very broken down instructions. I checked the Little Free Library website, but none of the blueprints break it down sufficiently enough that I could execute it.
There are a few on Instructables but some are super complex. The one by City Year is very straightforward though it does require a drill (editorial note: if you do not have a drill or a saw you might be better off having someone make you a kit that you can put together with the kids). It's nice in that there is painting involved which is good for little kids. It's less nice than something like this, for example which is really good in the weather. You should be able to have Lowes make the cuts for you to make the City Year one.
posted by jessamyn at 4:26 PM on July 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 4:26 PM on July 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
I have a little free library at my house -- not an OFFICIAL Little Free Library, but basically the exact same idea. But I have zero building skills and I knew it would take Mr. BlahLaLa a looooong time to get around to doing it for me, so I just used a crate tilted on its side. No door in front. Later, another neighbor donated a plywood piece for the top, so there's a roof with a little overhang. I live somewhere with mild weather, so I just take the books out if it's raining, and if the weather's really bad I can bring the entire box inside for a few days. So I would advocate you doing something similar for a total no-build solution. (Also, this thing is wonderful and a great neighborhood camaraderie-builder. I love having it.)
posted by BlahLaLa at 4:48 PM on July 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by BlahLaLa at 4:48 PM on July 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I did this for our school and I invited the shop class at the high school to help us. I'm sorry that isn't really answering your question, but the very *easiest* plans I could find still involved recessed plexiglass for the door.
In order to have my library students involved we went through a whole lesson plan on what is a LFL; why would we want one; what it would look like; and then we had a design contest. I had the design winner paint it with me.
Mefimail me if you want the lesson plans. I would be more than happy to send them your way.
Last year we updated it by providing a simple lesson to the each class in school that didn't participate that was how they could use the LFL and we also watched video about the boy in Kansas City who had to go in front of his city council because his LFL was out of compliance with zoning code. It was a great civics lesson.
Oh yes, they also did posters promoting LFL to the rest of the school.
posted by aetg at 9:06 PM on July 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
In order to have my library students involved we went through a whole lesson plan on what is a LFL; why would we want one; what it would look like; and then we had a design contest. I had the design winner paint it with me.
Mefimail me if you want the lesson plans. I would be more than happy to send them your way.
Last year we updated it by providing a simple lesson to the each class in school that didn't participate that was how they could use the LFL and we also watched video about the boy in Kansas City who had to go in front of his city council because his LFL was out of compliance with zoning code. It was a great civics lesson.
Oh yes, they also did posters promoting LFL to the rest of the school.
posted by aetg at 9:06 PM on July 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
The trouble is that you basically want to build a box with a slanted roof. Because of that slant, there's bound to be a few angles in there somewhere. But if you want to avoid angled cuts, you could simplify by making all cuts straight, adding some thicker bits of wood in the corners of your box, and screwing the roof down into those. Then fill the joints up with paintable caulk. (Sorry, I don't speak technical English, so my terms are probably off.)
Still, if you are not handy and do not own tools, I'm not sure if this is the project for you. Have you considered converting an existing structure to a LFL? A rabbit cage might work. I'm thinking of the type that looks like this (very common here, but maybe not so much where you are).
You'd mainly need to replace the grid with clear plastic, and the kids could have fun painting it.
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:59 AM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Still, if you are not handy and do not own tools, I'm not sure if this is the project for you. Have you considered converting an existing structure to a LFL? A rabbit cage might work. I'm thinking of the type that looks like this (very common here, but maybe not so much where you are).
You'd mainly need to replace the grid with clear plastic, and the kids could have fun painting it.
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:59 AM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The simplest reasonable version I can think of that will be pretty weather-proof still involves a couple angled cuts and a see-through door of some kind. If you go with a shed-roof style one, it's just two angled cuts, but you'd still need a circular saw and someone who knows how to use it. Lowes/Depot won't make angled cuts for you, I'm afraid.
As for the door, that can be complicated but it doesn't have to be. You can make a frame out of straight wood and probably could use mirror brackets to hold the plexiglass in.
All of this is a quick project for someone with just a little experience working with wood. For the completely inexperienced, though, it can feel very intimidating. Is there any chance you can recruit a friend or neighbor with a the tools to help you with your trial run?
posted by that's candlepin at 7:25 AM on July 24, 2015
As for the door, that can be complicated but it doesn't have to be. You can make a frame out of straight wood and probably could use mirror brackets to hold the plexiglass in.
All of this is a quick project for someone with just a little experience working with wood. For the completely inexperienced, though, it can feel very intimidating. Is there any chance you can recruit a friend or neighbor with a the tools to help you with your trial run?
posted by that's candlepin at 7:25 AM on July 24, 2015
LFLs are nicer with a window in the door. A small window works well as a door. You can look for a window to use at Habitat ReStore, on freecycle and craigslist/free. Then you build a box the size of the window. A metal roof might be easier. You can usually pick up scrap sheet metal at the same free resources. Think about what kind of base your LFL will be on; this is kind of a pain, probably requiring digging a post hole(a). You can get mailbox posts at hardware store.
You will need a saw and will want a drill. My 1st powered saw is a tiny jigsaw, and it helped me get over my fear of power tools. A cordless drill is an incredibly useful tool to own. Once you own some tools, you might be inspired to do more with them.
posted by theora55 at 7:28 AM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
You will need a saw and will want a drill. My 1st powered saw is a tiny jigsaw, and it helped me get over my fear of power tools. A cordless drill is an incredibly useful tool to own. Once you own some tools, you might be inspired to do more with them.
posted by theora55 at 7:28 AM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Jacqueline at 3:58 PM on July 23, 2015 [1 favorite]