Visiting every little free library in Ballard
20 miles and 93 libraries later...
Why are you doing this? Don’t you have something better to do with your day?
2 great questions to which I say: mind your own business
Okay, so our plan for today is to visit and rank every little free library in my neighborhood. I’m a pretty avid reader, I read 114 books last year (shoutout Goodreads) and I love reading almost as much as I enjoy finding new books. The potential of an unopened book is limitless, the prospect of actually having to read them is slightly less exciting. My family runs 2 little free libraries (I’m biased and included them in the rankings) and I love perusing through them and others to find new books to read.
If you’ve never stepped outside and opened your eyes in the last 5 years, or you don’t live in Ballard, little free libraries are small boxes with free books for the taking and leaving. They operate under a ‘take a book, leave a book’ policy with stewards looking after them ensuring they stay stocked. It’s a pretty sweet idea and helps cultivate a community vibe that I think is missing in a lot of places today. They apparently were started in 2009, but I don’t remember seeing them anywhere until at least 2015 and in my potentially (but probably not) flawed narrative, they really started popping off during the pandemic in 2020 when everyone was stuck at home.
Methodology:
Location: I will be using what google outlines as ‘Ballard’ as my free library hunting boundary. This has my northern boundary (mostly) at 85th street, eastern boundary at 8th & 3rd st, and the western and southern boundaries at the water (c’mon look at the map, you didn’t need me to tell you that).
Libraries: I’ll be visiting every library that is publicly visible on littlefreelibrary’s online map. There are many non-registered or non-map-visible LFLs that are in Ballard, but I will not be going street by street. If I come across additional libraries that aren’t registered or on the map, I will include them in my rankings but I will not go out of my way to find them (how would I even do that).
Alright I’m now writing this right after completing the mission. Wow that was a lot of steps and a lot of libraries. This took a full day of walking, taking about 7 hours (with a little lunch at sloops). Over the day I walked about 20 miles and visited a whopping 93 little free libraries.
The Results:
The Best of the Best
Best in show
These were my absolute favorite LFLs from the day. This group has a little bit of everything, from the Mariners stadium to an awesome new use for an old newspaper rack.
Safeco Field: I may be biased as a Mariners fan, but this one is pretty darn cool. The details from the home plate entrance to what is now T-Mobile Park carry over into this replica, and the platform with the infield diamond just brings it all home.
Salmon Box: This is a very funky and super Ballard LFL. This LFL is made entirely of reused items and the outer shell is made of wood from antique fish crates (hence the name). I loved the interesting visual of this LFL with its appearance giving off a Tardis Dr. Who vibe.
Book Barn: One of the more understated entries in this group. It’s simple and elegant with the name written on the front top. It pays homage to book barns on the northeast where people can get bulk books for cheap.
Jones Ave LFL: The simply stated ‘Jones Ave LFL"‘ might be my overall favorite from this trek. It seems to be an old newspaper rack and its location chilling in the grass and rocks really allows its bright red color to stand out.
Red House in Ballard: I’m a sucker for LFLs with multiple compartments and this one has 3. It’s architecture pays homage to the cedar shingled homes in Ballard once called “The Shingle Capitol of the World.” I would be lying to you if I knew any of that before reading it at their LFL, so this one gets a bonus for the included history lesson.
LFL in Honor of Christopher Stillman: This is a stunning little free library with the plaque reading “In memory of Chris, who loved reading, knowledge, and Little Free Libraries”. The design of this LFL is super cool with my favorite part being the interior. The main house has 2 shelves filled with some pretty solid books and then the side smaller house has a shelf full of kids books. Well thought out and even better executed.
The other bests
No criteria, just vibes
Some awesome LFLs in this batch. Signa’s welded LFL is super unique and I’m a sucker for anything see through. Unsure if it was intentional but the 3rd LFL, Jenny’s reminded me of a beehive and it got bonus points for that. The little light on the top of the Triple s Book Nook didn’t come out great in photos, but reminded me of the book barn from the first group and looked awesome in real life. My crowning favorite from this group has to be the last one - eloquently named “Little Free Library,” it’s excitement doesn’t come from its construction but rather the green bush that the library epically emerges from.
Libraries with the best books:
okay okay, if you thought the other sections were subjective, just wait for this one. Is your taste the same as mine? probably most definitely not - but for me, these were my favorite LFLs based on their contents and I ended up taking a book from each.
Some highlights from these shelves that are either on my read or to-read lists on Goodreads include (in no particular order): Wild, Just Mercy, We Spread, The Girl Who Played With Fire, Rodham, Small Fry, There There, My Brilliant Friend, The Color of Law, River Town, and The Lincoln Highway.
Best Themed Libraries:
an excuse to show off 2 awesome LFLs
Harry Potter might have made it into the top if it had a Gryffindor side. C’mon guys, we got all the houses, except the one with the people that saved the whole wizarding world?!?!?! Gotta Read ‘Em All is a super fun paint job with an even better name and I love the planter on top.
Libraries with the best view
aka the most inconveniently placed LFLs that added miles to my walk
Not many things go together better than a good view and a better book. Both of these libraries come with a side of Olympic mountains in the background and a long walk to get to either (peep the strava).
Color!!
these are just fun
A surprising amount of purple was shining through Ballard. These all had a little pop that just made them stand out when I was looking through the insane amount of photos I took.
Favorite Artwork:
The art work on these took often normal looking LFLs and elevated them to the next level. My favorite is the gnome garden surrounding the 5th library.
Best in wood
why is this even a category
Alright this might be the most arbitrary category. All but a few LFLs are made out of wood and there are many many with the raw wooden look that I’m choosing to highlight here, but these are my favorite from those. Special shoutout to LFL # for breaking a 1.5 mile drought of LFLs and having a really solid book selection.
(super cool) non book libraries:
Not sure how many toys can fit in there but I love the idea. Wish I had come across the vinyl library before I sold my record player last year - awesome idea, hope both get tons of use.
Coolest non library things of the day
Apparently people named Scott just make really cool stuff?? Dunno, now I want a Rainier.
Honorable Mentions (everything not yet listed)
These do the awesome job of supplying books to their neighborhood and I think everyone can appreciate that.
Honesty most of these could’ve found their way into another category if I didn’t get tired of looking at LFLs halfway through this project. Shoutout to LFL #245 for being the lowest charter number I came across and for having a unique (non wood I think?) interior.
Alright, if you’ve read this far, thank you, and feel free to give your opinions on the best LFL pictured or otherwise, but now it’s time to find something else to do with your time.
If you’re interested in starting a LFL in your neighborhood, check out these resources from littlefreelibraries: https://littlefreelibrary.org/start/
and if you’re in the Ballard area and are interested or have an LFL but haven’t registered it yet, check out Sustainable Ballard - they offer a $20 rebate to register and join their network of LFLs: https://www.sustainableballard.org/lfl/
Cheers,
Wyatt
Definitely missed my (and about a hundred more) pirate libraries in the heart of Ballard. They are on just about every block so street by street documentation makes the most sense (though tedious for a one person operation). As far as registration, I have a problem paying the $50 ransom to litigious orgs like LFL™ in order to use their trademarked name/be registered.
As the owner of 10416, which was showcased at Sustainable Ballard’s Edible Garden Tour in 2011, I was the lead in SB’s LFL Project for several. With similar pix I sat at the Sunday Market, and SB went on to produce, print and distribute 6 editions of a map showing the continual growth of Ballard’s libraries. Finally we decided that our support was no longer needed, but if you want to ever chat sometime let me know.