Woman Turned 110-Year-Old Dead Tree Into A Free Little Library For The Neighborhood And It Looks Magical
Even though we live in a connected world, with access to so much knowledge at the click of a button, there’s still something magical, and important, about books. The ability to immerse yourself in literary fiction and read slowly and deeply, as opposed to the temptation to skim and scroll, is rich in rewards and helps to foster important skills like critical thinking and empathy, two things that are becoming more obviously missing in our society.
Nonprofit organization Little Free Library is helping to ensure we keep our innate love of books alive by “inspiring a love of reading, building community, and sparking creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world.” These little libraries are popping up everywhere, with over 75,000 libraries provided in 88 countries so far!
The coolest one we’ve seen so far, however, was made by a family in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Sharalee Armitage Howard, a librarian, artist and former bookbinder, decided that the large stump of a 110-year-old cottonwood tree would, instead of being dug up and destroyed, make the perfect setting for a ‘Little Tree Library.’ “Someone willing to take the time to give new life to a stump would never cut down a healthy tree to do it,” Sharalee told Bored Panda. “It was dropping HUGE branches for years onto the sidewalk and street (even without windy weather). We were really worried about someone getting hurt. One finally hit our son’s car.”
“The average lifespan of a cottonwood tree is merely 40-50 years… so it got to live more than twice that already!”
The stump was carved out from the inside, topped with a roof and installed with a cozy interior and exterior lighting for a truly fairytale look, one of the prettiest libraries we’ve ever seen! Scroll down to check it out for yourself below, and pick up a book today!
The Little Free (Tree) Library
This is an awesome project.
A Coeur d’Alene artist found a unique way to repurpose an old and decaying tree in her front yard.
She’s turned the tree’s stump into a Little Free Library. It’s a free book exchange designed to encourage reading.
A Facebook post from the woman has since been shared close to 30,000 times!
https://www.krem.com/mobile/article/news/local/kootenai-county/artist-turns-100-year-old-tree-in-coeur-dalene-into-little-library/293-3fa730c4-2ccf-4771-bed9-0176fb334083
Posted by Taylor Viydo on Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Here’s what people had to say about the pretty Little Tree Library
390Kviews
Share on FacebookThis is exactly what you do with an old tree. Its magical. Love the little libraries all over my town. This one's by far the most amazing.
So what they're telling me is they chopped down a tree and stuffed it with it's own innards. Twisted. Also quite cool.
A recycled recycling bin with the finished recycled product inside?
Load More Replies...Love this. I know it's not a phone booth but I'd still keep an eye out for Dr. Who.
I love the idea of free libraries and this is the cutest one EVER!
I love this idea. The tree was dying, but you gave it life again. It still has an existence. I love trees and I love books. Putting both together is the best!! BTW, you did an excellent job, especially the fake books at the top and those marvelous hinges!!
How freaking beautiful is this? The only thing better than a library, is a library in a tree. 💚💚💚💚
Wow, what a marvelous idea, wonderful tree design, great photography, the door hinges look like frogs, perfect, perhaps my imagination, just love this library !!!
your libraries cost??? every library is free, renting books is out of question, sound insane
The only thing "free" about a library is the lending of the materials. Staff, building maintenance, acquiring materials - those all cost money and the funds come from tax dollars and/or private donations. Oh, yeah - and late fees!
Load More Replies...I LOVE Little Free Libraries! I carry books in my car so if I come across one I have something to contribute.
I have a boat load of books I used to read to my grand kids. i would love to mail them to you. coham1206@gmail.com
About a week ago I saw this and enjoyed so much, back for another look, Did they have to get a permit from the city ? It is fabulous thanks for sharing !!!
I think it’s awesome any huge branches left carve some railings from those remnants so if old people want to get up and down they could easily and it will prevent falls and it protects your liability as well otherwise it’s totally In the woods Fantastic 💜
This is fantastic. What a genius. Can't think of a better use for a 110-year-old dead tree. The tree had lived its long life, and has now gone on to house books made from other trees. I love it. Being an author myself, I'd love to have one of those right outside my house.
Beautifully done. Love the carved books too. I might have been tempted to move it to flat ground to avoid liability issues, as one OP noted.
This is a great idea and I was glad to see it is in Coeur d’Alene. If you have never been there Coeur d’Alene is a great place to visit. It's on a beautiful big lake. I lived near there as a kid.
This is a very cute idea. A nice person conceived the idea with good intensions, but the liability looks very scary.
When I worked in libraries, I would share books, especially children's titles. The recipients were always delighted. I never had the energy or resources to undertake a project like this but I applaud people who do.
I love this idea. I became a reader in grade school to escape the reality of living with my family. I still do it to escape the realities of my boring everyday life since I became so sick. Thank God for books. This is an awesome idea for children! Kudos to this neat lady!
To those calling it a liability no. Anyone using the library would be doing so at their own risk. If they wanted a claim they were injured all she would have to say is that they were trespassing. Simple as that.
I hope that children know what a real book looks like. We had several book spots in our (Dutch) village. Only adults come there and not very often.
This is so magical I can imagine reading a book sitting there and getting lost in my own world !!
Its interesting to read the comments. So many people have so many worries (zoning, liability, etc.) without seeing the beauty of this. It is kind of indicative of our collective angst, isn't it? So... bring on more free libraries and more do-gooders! This is truly magical and I wish I could do the same.
Did the Cottonwood tree die? Did it have a disease? Was it ruined by storm damage? If so, this is an AWESOME thing to do with it! If it was none of the above, then why would you destroy a beautiful 100 + year old tree?
It was already dead. Why do I feel the Dead Parrot sketch coming on?
Load More Replies...This is exactly what you do with an old tree. Its magical. Love the little libraries all over my town. This one's by far the most amazing.
So what they're telling me is they chopped down a tree and stuffed it with it's own innards. Twisted. Also quite cool.
A recycled recycling bin with the finished recycled product inside?
Load More Replies...Love this. I know it's not a phone booth but I'd still keep an eye out for Dr. Who.
I love the idea of free libraries and this is the cutest one EVER!
I love this idea. The tree was dying, but you gave it life again. It still has an existence. I love trees and I love books. Putting both together is the best!! BTW, you did an excellent job, especially the fake books at the top and those marvelous hinges!!
How freaking beautiful is this? The only thing better than a library, is a library in a tree. 💚💚💚💚
Wow, what a marvelous idea, wonderful tree design, great photography, the door hinges look like frogs, perfect, perhaps my imagination, just love this library !!!
your libraries cost??? every library is free, renting books is out of question, sound insane
The only thing "free" about a library is the lending of the materials. Staff, building maintenance, acquiring materials - those all cost money and the funds come from tax dollars and/or private donations. Oh, yeah - and late fees!
Load More Replies...I LOVE Little Free Libraries! I carry books in my car so if I come across one I have something to contribute.
I have a boat load of books I used to read to my grand kids. i would love to mail them to you. coham1206@gmail.com
About a week ago I saw this and enjoyed so much, back for another look, Did they have to get a permit from the city ? It is fabulous thanks for sharing !!!
I think it’s awesome any huge branches left carve some railings from those remnants so if old people want to get up and down they could easily and it will prevent falls and it protects your liability as well otherwise it’s totally In the woods Fantastic 💜
This is fantastic. What a genius. Can't think of a better use for a 110-year-old dead tree. The tree had lived its long life, and has now gone on to house books made from other trees. I love it. Being an author myself, I'd love to have one of those right outside my house.
Beautifully done. Love the carved books too. I might have been tempted to move it to flat ground to avoid liability issues, as one OP noted.
This is a great idea and I was glad to see it is in Coeur d’Alene. If you have never been there Coeur d’Alene is a great place to visit. It's on a beautiful big lake. I lived near there as a kid.
This is a very cute idea. A nice person conceived the idea with good intensions, but the liability looks very scary.
When I worked in libraries, I would share books, especially children's titles. The recipients were always delighted. I never had the energy or resources to undertake a project like this but I applaud people who do.
I love this idea. I became a reader in grade school to escape the reality of living with my family. I still do it to escape the realities of my boring everyday life since I became so sick. Thank God for books. This is an awesome idea for children! Kudos to this neat lady!
To those calling it a liability no. Anyone using the library would be doing so at their own risk. If they wanted a claim they were injured all she would have to say is that they were trespassing. Simple as that.
I hope that children know what a real book looks like. We had several book spots in our (Dutch) village. Only adults come there and not very often.
This is so magical I can imagine reading a book sitting there and getting lost in my own world !!
Its interesting to read the comments. So many people have so many worries (zoning, liability, etc.) without seeing the beauty of this. It is kind of indicative of our collective angst, isn't it? So... bring on more free libraries and more do-gooders! This is truly magical and I wish I could do the same.
Did the Cottonwood tree die? Did it have a disease? Was it ruined by storm damage? If so, this is an AWESOME thing to do with it! If it was none of the above, then why would you destroy a beautiful 100 + year old tree?
It was already dead. Why do I feel the Dead Parrot sketch coming on?
Load More Replies...
371
75