this yellow library with black box has tiny xmas lites attached around it. small & medium sized…read morebooks, mostly fiction. some children's books. reads. "Escape From Freedom" (Erich Fromm) -the rise of market capitalism leaves the worker with freedom that isn't easily attainable. rather than pursuing it individually, the worker entrusts the task to the prevailing political wind. -after Nazism achieved political power. Germans, not wanting to be left out when other political parties were abolished, acquiesced to Nazi policies, going with a winner. -Nazism appealed to the lower middle class who were resentful, hateful of the petty bourgeois, loved the strong, hated the weak. they were petty, hostile, suspected and hated the stranger. to avoid Nazism, Fromm advises democracies to allow citizens to think/act independently in a freer society.

this large blue box with a lite green frame on a tree stump isn't part of the Little Free Library…read more"system" as it's labeled as "Alice St. Little Library". nevertheless, it's a great addition as there are zero libraries in the surrounding communities. it's on the corner of Alice & 17th St. in front of large apartment. there's nonfiction , fiction, and a single children's book. read: "Xia Yue Le/It's Raining!" (J FiC) all in chinese, -a beginning reader for Chinese readers with simple illustrations. -story revolves around a pond in the open spaces where wild animals (lion, elephant, cows, giraffes, birds, monkeys, ducks go to drink water. -they don't equally share, the bigger animals have primary access. -when the puddle evaporates, rain water replenishes it. -the pics are self-explanatory, knowing a few Chinese words helps a lot.

LFLs are such a gem wherever they pop up! This one especially as Lakeside and surrounding 'hoods…read more(Uptown Oakland & Chinatown) seem to be strangely devoid of them. It could be that I wasn't looking hard enough as well... This is an unofficial Little Free Library, meaning it's not registered thus it won't show up on the official site: https://littlefreelibrary.org That said, that doesn't matter to the average Joe, as its "offering" is exactly the same: piles & piles of books! Classics, some obscure literary choices, exam books & anything that someone wants to part with. The more the better. Major kudos to the individuals who conceived this blue-colored LFL from scratch, and situated it on an underutilized tree stump. It offers a wonderful pulse of the community!

This group sends tons - like thousands every month - of high quality free books to prisoners and…read morehas been reliably doing it for a very long time. A fantastically worthy cause really. Their website has info on how to volunteer - everyone is a volunteer - or help out in other ways.

Volunteering at the prison literature project is rewarding. Inmates incarcerated throughout the…read moreU.S. write letters requesting books. They appreciate the help. Sarah coordinated the Wednesday's I've helped. She is thoughtful and organized.

It couldn't be more visible or charming to find this newer Little Free Library in its permanent…read morespot in front of the Painted Lady at the top of "Postcard Row" on Alamo Square. I see the owners lovingly tarp the Little Free Library when rain's expected so books don't get wet and damaged. Tourists linger not only to take a photo in front of this restored Victorian home but often take a book to read on their travels. A kind and thoughtful addition to Alamo Square.

Free mini library in lower haight. Take a book or leave a book. It's well maintained. This is one…read moreof many free library boxes around San Francisco. On the front of the box is a website to learn more.

Wow what a pleasant surprise!…read more On a busy street in Benicia is one of the more cute little free library boxes I've seen. There's even a little faux white picket fence on the side which makes it especially cute. It's very well-maintained, and appears to be mostly wood with perhaps some vinyl. The day that I visited it was well stocked with both soft covers and hard covers. This street is one of the more cute streets in town. Check out the fun lawn ornaments at the house next door.

this motley yellow/green/stardust book box (#33154) is homemade. it's very distinct with imprinted…read morebold leaf shadows. books within are fictions, nonfictions, and textbooks. reads: 'Mar-A-Lago" Inside the Gate of Power at Donald Trump's Presidental Palace" (Laurence Leamer) -Donald Trump acquires Meriweather Post's estate ro build luxury houses thereon. unsuccessful, he opens the Mar-A-lago night club/golf course to compete with a major one. Trump's club would admit Jews while the other one didn't. -with Trump's marketing skills, the Mar-A-Lago soon became the hottest ticket in Palm Beach. the novel reveals some behind the scenes tidbits typically found in Trump properties. material was personally sourced by the author. *saw it in the library, it's an interesting read, not a must read.

The only problem I have about El Cerrito Recycling Center is the parking spaces. I am horrible on…read morereversing my car and aligning with the space. Am I going to give El Cerrito Recycling Center a bad review...NO! I was able to recycle used motor oil, regular AA/AAA batteries, Bluetooth Speakers, Computer monitors, Computer towers, printers, scanners, perhaps anything I am allowed to recycle at this location. I have been going to the El Cerrito Recycling Center since 1998. This place has gone through a lot of changes especially the parking spaces (yes I will continuing mention that). Thankfully nobody has DARE to trash this location and it is a good thing that they manage to keep the area in great condition. Keep the great work!

I am very happy that the local community has the El Cerrito Recycling Center present. The center is…read morewell managed and it has a method or means of disposing almost (emphasis on 'almost') anything one can think of. On top of that you may be able to find something you'd like too, like a good book to read. The last star is missing for two reasons. The center is located in a dead end location. That works in the sense of it not being a potential eyesore or traffic mess if located on a main street. But it doesn't quite work so well being there is only one way in and one way out; sometimes you can find yourself waiting a bit to do something. And the other reason is it is kinda small for all that it offers. Traffic flow can be challenging. But that's only one star split among two or more reasons. Instead focus on the other four stars that I'm dropping here

I had the pleasure of visiting this community library in Penngrove, CA called The Sitting Room…read moretoday. It is in a private individual's home who has opened her lovely house to the public as a library of books centering women writers. The whole place was extremely charming and well organized, with various rooms representing different collections such as poetry, the performing arts, an entire section dedicated to books by and about Virginia Woolf, a beautiful altar setup to Maya Angelou and her books, complete with a powerful quote of hers on the wall, several bookcases of publications by lesbian writers which were built "into a closet," funnily enough, and a whole room dedicated to the obituaries of noteworthy women. This place is a vast archive of relevant materials all focused on women authors and thinkers. The grounds, including the back and front yards, are beautified by numerous standing redwoods towering over the house. It created a very welcoming sanctuary that made you really want to sit there and browse and read for hours. All of this is dedicated to women writers. J.J. Wilson and her staff of enthusiastic volunteers are to be highly credited and praised for giving this unique and beautiful gift to our community. Such a rich and exciting dwelling place, and community center for us all to enjoy! I highly recommend you visit! Go check it out, and set aside a few hours for browsing and sampling, like a visit to a bakery for those of us who love to read.

This is a hidden gem in Rohnert Park! This is a private free library, where you can borrow books…read morefor free, and even host events. There is a little kitchen too so you can serve some snacks to your group. I found this place because I was invited to an event for the women who work at Sonoma State. We had a lovely time, sipping wine and eating snacks, relaxing in the garden. I found a book on my way out, and one of the volunteers was happy to chat with me about it and let me take it right away. Can you believe it?? This is truly a spot for book lovers. They just let you take books -- no membership card, no due dates, just readers creating a space for each other. It is a really quaint and relaxing place. I can't believe more people don't know about it!

A little free library for jigsaw puzzles. Bring one, take one. Or bring several as I did. This…read moreis such a wonderful addition to the neighborhood, especially as more and more people are taking up working on jigsaw puzzles due to the pandemic. Obviously it's an ever changing selection but the day I stopped by there were boxed puzzles in all sizes. Some people will mark if the puzzle is complete or how many pieces are missing. I dropped off some brand new unopened boxes, so get them while you can.