Libraries on the Loose: 10 West Hill/Renton Little Free Libraries

Jack’s Library can be found in Upper Rainier Beach.

The West Hill neighborhoods of Bryn Mawr, Lakeridge, Skyway, and Earlington are dotted with Little Free Libraries—tiny, usually homemade book shelters serve as “take-a-book, leave-a-book” stations where neighbors can share their favorite literature and stories.

“This is an area where a lot of kids walk to school,” said one West Hill neighbor with a Little Free Library. “Also there is a fire station and food bank and post office. A young neighbor moved in and has motivated myself and others to own the neighborhood an help make it a better place to live.”

According to littlefreelibrary.org—a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world—the movement began in 2009 when a Wisconsin man built a model of a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former school teacher who loved reading. He filled it with books and put it on a post in his front yard. His friends and neighbors loved it so much that he built several more and gave them away. Each one had a sign that said FREE BOOKS.

“We wanted to have a little free library in our neighborhood,” said another West Hill neighbor. “I went looking for some materials at a local recycle material store and found that they had old newspaper boxes for sale. I modified one, giving it a roof and a basement.”

It’s no surprise that the idea took off in the Seattle area—once voted the nation’s most literate city. And the south-end is no exception. Below are some of my favorites.

Do you have a favorite Little Free Library in the south Seattle area? Want your own? Check out littlefreelibrary.org for more information.

10 West Hill/Renton Little Free Libraries:

1. Charter #5042: 76th Ave. S. between S. 124th St. & S. 122nd St.
Lat: 47.50505
Long: -122.23162

2. Charter #40527: S. 117th St. between 80th Ave. S. & 82nd Ave. S.
Lat: 47.50632
Long: -122.23509

3. Charter #17271: Dixon Dr. S. between Oakwood Ave. S. & S. Lakeridge Dr.
Lat: 47.50647
Long: -122.23921

4. Charter #2227:
Lat: 47.49243
Long:-122.23791

5. Charter #16880: S. Sunnycrest between Woodley Ave. S. & Crestwood Dr. S.
Lat: 47.50949
Long: -122.25571
“I’m a voracious reader and I’m hoping to share my favorite books with anyone interested. Don’t be shy–take as many as you want, and leave a few, too!”

6. Charter #21747: 62nd Ave. S. off S. Ryan St.
Lat: 47.4983099
Long: -122.23116

7. Charter #2478: Btween 62nd & 63rd off S. Ryan St.
Lat: 47.51006
Long: -122.25504

8. Charter #4458:
Lat: 47.47515
Long: -122.20511

9. Charter #29061:
Lat: 47.4853499
Long: -122.20304

10. Charter #13237:
Lat: 47.4849699
Long: -122.20075

Photos/GO: South Seattle