06-20-14 Press Release - Get Booked Huts

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Our History - Little Free Library Page 2 of 3 became key connectors with friends and supporters. Their role as stewards were critical to the movement's growing success. Our Mission • To promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide. ' To build a sense of community as we share skills, •Dr.Tanq Saleem Mamm,a - Little Free Library champion creativity and wisdom across generations. in Pakistan Our Goal = To build 2,510 Little Free Libraries—as many as Andrew Carnegie—and keep going.* Key Strategies Promotion of reading for children,literacy for adults and libraries around the world. With no start-up or operating capital,no office or paid staff,the concept was evolving into an enterprise reaching communities far beyond a front yard next to the St.Croix River in Hudson. The first official little Free Library outside the Hudson area was posted by a bike path behind the Absolutely Art Gallery and CaM Zoma on the east side of Madison in the summer of 2010. By the time of the Willy Street Fair in September,thousands of people had seen the Absolutely Art Library. The process of giving away Bol's creations began to require a way to cover expenses to build many more than he could handle by himself. Amish carpenter Henry Miller of rural Cashton,Wisconsin became the primary craftsman,using wood recycled from a 100 year-old barn destroyed in a tornado. Giving away Little Libraries and hand-crafted signs with official Little Free Library charter numbers began to generate curiosity and`word of mouth"story - sharing.The www.littlefreelibrary.org website and a loyal cadre of volunteers - made it possible to expand the organizational reach beyond the co-founders. The movement centered around the enthusiasm and commitment of stewards who hosted and often built their own neighborhood Libraries. Some small Thousands of hooks haae passed through grants,informal partnerships and alliances began to have an impact on Little this Little Free Library outside of Indie Free Library's ability to keep up with demand. Coffee in Madison,WI. And the rest..is history,documented in newspapers,blogs and broadcasts ' sc=t.;n., "' -- throughout the world. The year 2011 brought local,regional and national media - - attention to the backyard project that had become a movement. With nearly 400 Little Free Libraries across the U.S.by the end of the year,the founders knew it was time to become a formal,independent organization. In May,2012,Little - •- Free Library was officially established as a Wisconsin nonprofit corporation ...' with a board of directors. In September,the Internal Revenue Service granted - tax-exempt status. *This goal was reached in August of 2012,a year and a half before our original target date. By January of 2014,the total number of registered Little Free . Libraries in the world was conservatively estimated to be nearly 15,000,with thousands more being built. Aboni I Ste wards&rFriends Gel Involved GIVE tact It official Little Free Library g I et l.v li alog Contact http://Iittlefreelibrary.org/ourhistory/ 6/19/2014