Renton Residents Share Love for Reading with Custom Little Free Libraries

What could be simpler than the concept of 'take a book, leave a book' to promote the joy of reading around the world?

Award-winning children's book author Peg Kehret recently introduced her Little Free Library to the town of Wilkeson, and a featured story on KING5 helped to illustrate how quickly this small, free book exchange kiosks are popping up all over Seattle neighborhoods. 

And also Renton. The self-reported Little Free Library world map shows there are currently five such kiosks in Renton, and Patch touched in with two of their stewards to learn more about what motivated them to participate in the program.

Dennis Barth, whose built such a Little Free Library in his front yard at 16434 SE 145th St. last year, gives credit to his wife. "Last year at about this time my wife, Karin saw in Reader's Digest about free library mostly in the Midwest. So being retired letter carrier she felt I have time to built one," he wrote in an email to Patch.

Barth said he sought wood at housing development sites for more than two weeks before he was able to build his library. It cut expenses because he built it himself, and he painted it red, white and blue because of the proximity to the Fourth of July. 

"During this time our community have enjoyed the library," he wrote. "We are close to a middle school and high school. The area is flat and we have many walkers. They all stop and talk they seem to enjoy the library."

Lisette Trombley's library at 2616 NE 6th Place had some growing pains, largely stemming from her initial desire to repurpose an old microwave to serve as her kiosk last summer.

Two junk dealers tried to take the microwave before a third was actually successful in removing it - books and all - from her front yard.

"I replaced my library with one of the kit versions available on the LFL (Little Free Library) website, kindly cemented in place by the men who built my fence a few months ago," she wrote to Patch.

While the attraction seemed to appeal most to adults at the beginning, Trombley said of late, children and teens are also regular visitors. "The official LFL policy is to 'take a book, leave a book' but I always encourage people to feel free to keep any books they like.  I have a classroom collection of hundreds of books and am always buying more so am delighted any time anyone likes a book enough to keep it."

Trombley's library, like many that are a part of this program, is dedicated to someone special. For her, it was in memory of Percy the Disabled Cat. "I first found out about the Little Free Library program when a friend shared a post about them on Facebook.  As a teacher and avid reader, I immediately loved the idea ..."

She explains: "Percy was born with bilateral hip dysplasia and had been rescued by Renton Animal Control half dead from starvation, abuse, disease and exposure; he was fostered in an office at the Seattle Humane Society in Bellevue until I adopted him.  A regular volunteer at the Seattle Humane Society in Bellevue, I am still known by some there as 'Percy's mama.' Percy could walk a little but not run or jump.  Despite his rough start in life, Percy was a loving companion for the few years he survived.  He loved nothing better than to curl up on my lap while I read.  I haven't yet determined how I will add Percy's image to the new library, but I'm working on it.  I also hope to place a small bench or seat next to it and to finish landscaping it into a cozy invitation to sit and read."

More information:

Little Free Library website

Renton Locations:
16434 SE 145th St.
2616 NE 6th Place
15745 204th Ave SE
721 Grant Ave. S
14541 167th PL SE