Short Stuff: Alternative Libraries

Summary

Stuff You Should Know: Short Stuff - Alternative Libraries

Release Date: April 23, 2025
Hosts: Josh and Chuck (sitting in for Dave)
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts

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Introduction to Alternative Libraries

In this episode of Short Stuff, hosts Josh and Chuck delve into the fascinating world of alternative libraries, exploring innovative ways communities share knowledge and foster connections beyond traditional library systems. Skipping over the typical advertisements and introductions, the duo focuses on two primary types of alternative libraries: Little Free Libraries and the Human Library Project.

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Little Free Libraries: Building Community One Book at a Time

Origin and Inspiration Dave kicks off the discussion by recounting a personal encounter with Little Free Libraries in his neighborhood. Described as charming, small structures resembling houses or doghouses, these libraries offer a simple exchange system—take a book, leave a book. Dave shares, “I grabbed one and she's reading it and loving it,” highlighting the personal impact these libraries can have on individuals and families (00:56).

The concept was initiated by Todd Bowell from Hudson, Wisconsin, in 2009. Inspired by Andrew Carnegie's philanthropic efforts in establishing public libraries, Bowell aimed to create accessible book-sharing points as a tribute to his teacher mother. Dave notes, “Todd Boal and Rick Brooks said, let's try to see if we can make 2,508 of these things by the end of 2013,” emphasizing their ambitious start (03:15).

Growth and Global Reach What began as a modest initiative quickly surpassed initial goals. By 2014, Rich Brooks retired from the organization, leaving behind a legacy of exponential growth. Chuck shares impressive statistics, “So in 29 [likely a typo for 2009], by 2022, there were more than 150,000 little free libraries across the world in 120 different countries” (05:39). This rapid expansion underscores the universal appeal and adaptability of the Little Free Library model.

Personal Anecdotes and Reflections Both hosts share personal stories that illustrate the charm and community-building potential of Little Free Libraries. Chuck humorously recalls his initial misunderstanding of the concept: “I didn't get the concept, so I kind of burned it down… and put it in my jacket and ran off really quick” (04:46). Dave contrasts this by expressing awe at the idea's ingenuity: “I remember when I saw the first one, I was like, wow, that's an incredible idea” (04:46).

Legacy and Impact The late Todd Bowell left a profound mark on the library movement. Chuck highlights, “He has a great quote: I really believe in a little free library on every block and a book in every hand… people can fix their neighborhoods, fix their communities” (06:48). This vision encapsulates the broader social and cultural benefits of such initiatives, promoting literacy, community engagement, and shared resources.

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Human Library Project: Redefining What It Means to “Read”

Concept and Creation Transitioning to another form of alternative library, Dave introduces the Human Library Project, a brainchild of Danish artists Ronnie and Danny Abergel. Launched around the year 2000 at a festival in Denmark, the project reimagines the library by making people the "books." As Chuck explains, “Have to be… the Human Library… the concept that the books were human beings” (10:00).

How It Works Participants, referred to as "human books," share their personal stories and experiences, especially those that challenge societal norms or involve overcoming adversity. Visitors can "check out" these human books to engage in meaningful conversations, ask questions, and gain insights into diverse lives. Dave describes it as “part performance art, part TED Talk” (11:01), highlighting its innovative approach to storytelling and education.

Global Expansion and Implementation Since its inception, the Human Library Project has expanded globally, establishing branches in Asia, Africa, Australia, the Americas, and Europe. Chuck notes, “If you're a volunteer as a book, you go through a vetting process and then they teach you how to do this” (09:40). The initiative encourages organizations and companies to host Human Library events, fostering inclusivity and understanding within workplaces and communities.

Anecdotes and Host Insights The hosts share amusing and insightful moments from their experiences with the Human Library. Chuck jokes about the initial confusion some might have: “What's the library thing? I don't. Yeah, I'm totally confused” (13:23). Despite initial misunderstandings, the underlying message encourages people to "broaden their horizons" and engage with diverse perspectives.

Support and Participation Both hosts emphasize the importance of supporting alternative libraries. Dave concludes with a call to action: “Support little free library. Support the Human Book Project, and support all libraries, too” (14:05), urging listeners to participate in or promote these initiatives to enhance community learning and connectivity.

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Notable Quotes

• Dave on Little Free Libraries Impact:
  “I usually don't even look at them that much because I just have too many books I'm behind on already. But one popped up in my eye peripheral vision that would be perfect for Ruby.”

• Chuck on Human Library Purpose:
  “It's sort of part performance art, part TED Talk, in a way. Just kind of referring to them as books was the hook, I think.”

• Todd Bowell’s Vision:
  “I really believe in a little free library on every block and a book in every hand. I believe people can fix their neighborhoods, fix their communities, develop systems of sharing, learn from each other, and see that they have a better place in this planet to live.” (06:48)

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Conclusion: Embracing Alternative Libraries

Josh and Chuck wrap up the episode by reiterating the value of alternative libraries in fostering community spirit, promoting literacy, and encouraging diverse interactions. By highlighting both Little Free Libraries and the Human Library Project, they showcase how innovative approaches to libraries can make profound impacts on individuals and societies alike. Listeners are encouraged to support or participate in these initiatives, contributing to a more connected and informed world.

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Note: This summary focuses solely on the content-rich sections of the transcript, excluding advertisements and non-content segments, to provide a comprehensive overview of the discussions on alternative libraries featured in this episode of Stuff You Should Know.

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Timestamp References

• 00:56 – Introduction to alternative libraries and Little Free Libraries
• 03:15 – Origin and initial goals of Little Free Libraries
• 04:46 – Personal anecdotes about Little Free Libraries
• 05:39 – Growth and global reach of Little Free Libraries
• 06:48 – Quote from Todd Bowell on the vision for Little Free Libraries
• 09:40 – Introduction to the Human Library Project
• 10:00 – Explanation of the Human Library concept
• 11:01 – Description of the Human Library’s format
• 13:23 – Hosts discuss initial confusion about the Human Library
• 14:05 – Call to support alternative libraries

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For more insightful summaries and explorations of diverse topics, tune into Stuff You Should Know on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast platform.

Transcript

[Dave]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast.

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[Chuck]

Hey and welcome to the Short Stuff. I'm Josh and there's Chuck and we're sitting in for Dave today. And this is Short Stuff.

[Dave]

That's right. And we are here today to talk about. This is sort of a two parter in one about. I'm just calling this Alt Libraries, as in alternative libraries.

[Chuck]

Sure.

[Dave]

One reason is because I was on a walk the other day and we have quite a few little free libraries in our neighborhood and they are all super cute if you don't know what we're talking about. They're little boxes usually in the shape of a house or it could be a dog house, or it could be a literal library or schoolhouse. Just some sort of small housey type structure with a little clear door. And inside are books that you can take a book, you can take a couple of books, you can leave a book. And it's just one of the great things. And I grabbed one. I usually don't even look at them that much because I just have too many books I'm behind on already. But one popped up in my eye peripheral vision that would be perfect for Ruby. So I grabbed it and she's reading it and loving it. And so I thought we should do a little ode to alt libraries like this.

[Chuck]

What was the book?

[Dave]

I can't remember. The Last Kids on Earth or something like that.

[Chuck]

Oh, that sounds good.

[Dave]

That may not be the title, but that's sort of the premise.

[Chuck]

She might be too old for this, but maybe not. Has she ever read any of the scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books?

[Dave]

I don't think. And it is actually called the Last Kids on Earth. It looks like it's a series. No, that sounds like something right up her alley though.

[Chuck]

Okay, go to ebay and find whatever editions came out in the 80s.

[Dave]

Okay.

[Chuck]

Because they have some of the greatest illustrations ever that made everything so much more unsettling you have to get those watercolor illustrations or else don't even bother.

[Dave]

I'm looking at them now and they are terrifying.

[Chuck]

They are. It's so great. I remember being a kid and just being like, this is, this is so great. I feel so alive.

[Dave]

Thanks for the wreck.

[Chuck]

Yeah. There's also more scary stories to tell in the dark. Pretty much equally good.

[Dave]

So maybe we should flip it and start with little free library. Since I mentioned that one first as inspirato. But in 29 how the story goes, and this is straight from their website, a man named Todd Boal from Wisconsin, Hudson, Wisconsin, started it all when he built a little model of a schoolhouse, of a little one room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mom who was a teacher. Put it on a post, put some books in it and said, hey everyone, if you want a book, take one. If you want to drop one off, that'd be great too. And it was a big hit.

[Chuck]

It was a huge hit actually. So apparently Andrew Carnegie funded, I believe 2500 plus. For some reason everybody says 2508. So I'm guessing that's the number public libraries around the turn of last century or early last century and there's still plenty around that. He essentially partnered with whatever local government and said, hey, I'll give you a bunch of money or I'll throw in half or something like that. And that was one of the big pieces of philanthropy he was known for. So I guess Todd Bola and Rick Brooks said, let's try to see if we can make 2,508 of these things by the end of 2013, which is a couple years after they started and they just blew that goal out of the water.

[Dave]

Yeah, Rich Brooks was the guy like you said he partnered with. He actually retired from the, which is now an NGO in 2014. But he, you know, they were pals and he thought it was a great idea. And again, inspired by Carnegie, they set out to start building these by 2010. So in 29 is when the first one was built. By 2010, it was like an established thing that was happening. They started to give them away. They had charter signs, if it was an official one, engraved with a charter number. And people were into it and they started, you know, you see one of these things in your neighborhood. I remember when I saw the first one, I was like, wow, that's an incredible idea. And it felt like within that year we had like six or seven more.

[Chuck]

Yeah, I remember the first time I saw one, I didn't get the concept So I kind of burned it down. A book that I wanted. And so I looked around to make sure no one was looking and put it in my jacket and ran off really quick.

[Dave]

I thought you said you got a bunch of books and you sold them on ebay.

[Chuck]

No, I just took one and sold it on ebay. Yeah, eventually. But I said that when they started, they wanted to make 2,508 of these things within a couple of years. They ended up surpassing that with a year and a half left before their goal date. And they just kept going from there, apparently. Chuck, here's some mind boggling numbers for you. So they started in 2009. In 2022, there were more than 150,000 little free libraries across the world in 120 different countries.

[Dave]

Yeah, I did not know it had gone international until I started doing this research. It's just incredible. Like I said, Brooks retired in 2014. Someone actually wrote in 2015, a woman named Margaret. Oh, she's a pretty famous author, actually. Margaret Aldrich wrote the Little Free Library book. So all of a sudden, it's like launching books in and of itself. They got, in 2014, that same year, the Library of Congress Literacy Award. Just like people are lauding it, people are building these things like crazy. And it's just become one of the cool things that started here in the US and then spread all over the place very sadly in 2018, Todd Bowell passed away from pancreatic cancer after the launch of their 75,000th at the time, Little Free Library. And he was working for them up until the end and has a great quote. I really believe in a little free library on every block and a book in every hand. I believe people can fix their neighborhoods, fix their communities, develop systems of sharing, learn from each other, and see that they have a better place in this planet to live.

[Chuck]

Very sweet. That is a great last interview quote.

[Dave]

Yeah, pretty awesome.

[Chuck]

All right, well, let's take a break and we'll come back and talk about a different kind of alt library after this.

[Dave]

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[Chuck]

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[Chuck]

Okay, Chuck, so we already talked about little free libraries which anybody can make. And if you want some tips like we said, go check out the little free Libra book. If you saw that in a little free library, wouldn't the universe just collapse in on itself?

[Dave]

Yeah. You can also donate to them, of course.

[Chuck]

Yeah, it's that kind of give a book, take a book thing. I don't know if we spelled it out or if we needed to, but that's the premise of it, right?

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Chuck]

Another thing was called the Human Library. And this was the result of a couple of who I take to be artists, brothers Ronnie Abergel and Danny Abergel.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Chuck]

Have to be. Yeah. For a festival in Denmark about the year 2000, they created the Human Library. In Danish they call it Meneske Bibliotheket, but all one word.

[Dave]

Yeah. Bibliothek is. That's in a lot of languages, right?

[Chuck]

Sure. But you add the ET to the end and you've got Danish.

[Dave]

That's right.

[Chuck]

So what they created with this human library was the concept that the books were human beings, and there were human beings that people might want to get information from. So there were human beings who were typically looked down upon, mistreated, had different experiences from the mainstream. So you had, like, books that were trans people, unhoused people, people from different races. And you can check out one of these books, this human book, and hang out with them and ask them whatever question you want, and then you take them back and check out another one.

[Dave]

Yeah. It's sort of part performance art, part TED Talk, in a way. Just kind of referring to them as books was the hook, I think. And obviously something to draw attention to their cause, which is very noble, I think. It started out as a small festival, and I think it ran eight hours a day for over four days, initially with 50 human books available. And now it is an Internet international thing. They have human libraries in Asia, Africa, Australia, both of the Americas and Europe.

[Chuck]

Yeah, I thought this was kind of cute, too. So if you're a volunteer as a book. Yeah. You go through a vetting process and then they teach you how to do this. And they call that getting published.

[Dave]

Yeah, that's pretty fun.

[Chuck]

And then once you're published, you can be checked out. Yeah. And the rules for readers are that you respect the book, be curious, bring the book back on time. And in the same condition, I'm keeping this book. If you read between the lines, I think bring it back in the same condition means that they don't want any pages stuck together with a booger.

[Dave]

Yeah. Don't make your book to your dishes. Don't put your book to work. That's not what this is about.

[Chuck]

Well, luckily, the book can end the loan anytime they want. Like, if things go pear shaped.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Chuck]

They can be like, I'm taking myself back to the library.

[Dave]

Yeah. Just stamp my forehead so I can leave.

[Chuck]

Right. They also have mobile libraries called Book Depots, the headquarters for this that it just carried on for the last couple decades. It's headquartered in Copenhagen, but they have mobile libraries and I guess they just go round up the books and they're like, sorry, you're published. You're coming with us on the road for a little while.

[Dave]

Yeah. You can also, like, book a group of books or check out a group of books at one time. Like, a company can do this and companies have done this. It's something that companies do. They'll bring in guest speakers and stuff, and in this case, they're doing it in the form of human books. They'll bring in a few different people to bring in to talk about things that, again, sort of like an individual would like, hey, let's bring in some people that maybe don't even work in our field, but might enlighten you to some diverse topics and people and ways of thinking. So, like, Microsoft and Eli Lilly and other brands have gotten together to kind of do this over the years?

[Chuck]

Yes. And I think invariably at all of those events, there's at least one person who raises their hand and says, so wait, this is just Q and A, right?

[Dave]

Like, I don't get it.

[Chuck]

What's the library thing? I don't. Yeah, I'm totally confused.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Chuck]

And they probably don't get very much out of the experience.

[Dave]

Exactly. Those people never do. But, yeah, it's just sort of a fun hook. I like stuff like this. Some people might say it's silly. Oh, they're not books. They're just people. And it's just a Q and A. But I encourage people like that to sort of broaden their horizons. Think outside the old box a little bit and. Ctfd.

[Chuck]

Yeah. Just make sure that the person you're dragging off to be checked out is a published book and not just some rando.

[Dave]

No, you don't want to do that. Hey, you're coming with me. That's called kidnapping.

[Chuck]

Right? You got anything else?

[Dave]

I got nothing else. Support little free library. Support the Human Book Project, and support all libraries, too. Yeah, those are great.

[Chuck]

Also, Short Stuff is out.

[Josh]

Stuff youf Should Know is a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts, my heart radio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite show.