Stolen Mobile Free Library- please report sighting [Archive]

theorem painter

03-09-2023, 06:16 PM

Just a thought. But, if it was out in the yard someone probably thought it was a freebie!
No, the library was full of books. No, Community Watch did not take it. They were aware that it was at the end of her driveway and as long as she put it in her garage, there was no problem.

Stu from NYC

03-09-2023, 07:07 PM

Is it possible trash collection took it?

retiredguy123

03-09-2023, 07:25 PM

No, the library was full of books. No, Community Watch did not take it. They were aware that it was at the end of her driveway and as long as she put it in her garage, there was no problem.
Why do you think someone didn't just take it? If it was at the end of the driveway, it was fair game. What does Community Watch have to do with it?

ducati1974

03-09-2023, 10:17 PM

Why do you think someone didn't just take it? If it was at the end of the driveway, it was fair game. What does Community Watch have to do with it?

As was stated, it was completely filled with books, had a "Little Free Library" sign on it and was well known in the neighborhood.

retiredguy123

03-10-2023, 05:02 AM

As was stated, it was completely filled with books, had a "Little Free Library" sign on it and was well known in the neighborhood.
There are non-Villagers who drive through the area and pick up whatever people leave at the end of their driveway. It is very possible that someone just took it without realizing they were stealing something.

LuvNH

03-10-2023, 06:40 AM

There are non-Villagers who drive through the area and pick up whatever people leave at the end of their driveway. It is very possible that someone just took it without realizing they were stealing something.

Yes there are Ebay pickers come through at night. I had a problem with my trash bags being slashed open for them to search. I have to believe that this very cute item filled with books has been taken from the end of the driveway.

We recently downsized and got rid of many items just by leaving them at the curb. We could not believe the items that were taken during the day, let alone what would disappear at night when no onne is around.

Freehiker

03-10-2023, 07:27 AM

I would absolutely bet it was just taken by someone that didn’t know. Non-villagers driving through the communities and picking up things at the end of the driveways is very common.

Plus, you said it had a sign on it that said “Free Little Library”.

Hardlyworking

03-10-2023, 08:19 AM

Maybe a prolific reader.

PugMom

03-10-2023, 10:18 AM

Is it possible trash collection took it?

my 1st thought

Lindsyburnsy

03-10-2023, 11:21 AM

Fla governor just book banning. The pictured Little Free Library was lovingly built and donated by The Villages Habitat For Humanity Club for a resident of the Village of Summerhill and her neighbors. Please report at once if you have seen it. Rick @ 413-531-3020
97346

Keefelane66

03-10-2023, 11:28 AM

I get books from the library downloaded on my kindle also audiobooks

Dotneko

03-10-2023, 01:00 PM

Fla governor just book banning.

I rolled my eyes so hard I think I strained them.
Must everything be political?

Pairadocs

03-10-2023, 02:08 PM

As was stated, it was completely filled with books, had a "Little Free Library" sign on it and was well known in the neighborhood.

This is such a sad story. I guess due to the love that prompted the building of such an item (and what a WONDERFUL idea for every neighborhood !), it makes me feel even worse than when people have their entire planted pots taken, ladders taken, etc. It'[s all just such a sad commentary on society. HOWEVER, from what we see in our neighborhood, the scavengers in trucks that cruise our street between 2 and 4 a.m., (with flashlights), I would certainly think anything with "free" on it, would be snapped up WITH books... "free library". Just saying, I have watched how quickly they snatch up anything. Here's an example from less than two weeks ago. New neighbor did not know all the rules and regulations, just moved in. Thinking they were helping the waste pick up people, they carefully collapsed all the boxes and even tied them in bundles. They took all the other waste from the unpacking, and put it in a large, rather new and expensive looking Rubbermaid wheeled garbage container. The waste people, of course, took the entire thing. When another neighbor explained to them (they were dismayed when they found their new container gone, not emptied), they understood that they had just not yet familiarized themselves with the routine....HOWEVER.. I also suspect the scavenger trucks might have scoffed that up before Jacobs even got there the next morning ! ?

Pairadocs

03-10-2023, 02:14 PM

There are non-Villagers who drive through the area and pick up whatever people leave at the end of their driveway. It is very possible that someone just took it without realizing they were stealing something.

They SURE DO, and, not always has to be at the very end of the drive. They flash their flash lights (always down, I guess so they don't hit a window with the light) and if a garden tool, ladder, or other item is not that far into the yard, they grab it and toss it in. Probably "non" villagers as you mentioned, but I guess none of us know for sure ? The ones that come in trucks, probably, and yet, I guess it still could be a resident. As for the little library on wheels, 99.99% probably one of the professional scavengers.

Taltarzac725

03-10-2023, 10:41 PM

The pictured Little Free Library was lovingly built and donated by The Villages Habitat For Humanity Club for a resident of the Village of Summerhill and her neighbors. Please report at once if you have seen it. Rick @ 413-531-3020
97346

Agree that night scavengers got it. Maybe try a wagon that goes house- to -house in your neighborhood to distribute books.

Cobullymom

03-11-2023, 04:59 AM

I rolled my eyes so hard I think I strained them.
Must everything be political?
You better believe it, always

cmeinel@verizon.net

03-11-2023, 05:13 AM

Next time put free books for reading someone misread the sign

bowlingal

03-11-2023, 05:15 AM

it had the word FREE on it. Enough said. Next time DO NOT put the word FREE on it

retiredguy123

03-11-2023, 05:35 AM

If you don't want something taken, don't put it at the end of the driveway.

BoatRatKat

03-11-2023, 06:34 AM

That is sad. I have to agree with others... a beautifully built and painted piece of furniture sitting at the end of the driveway with the word, "free". Not everyone knows English so they might have just seen the word, "free" and nothing else. I think the donated little library got donated by mistake.

Fastskiguy

03-11-2023, 07:15 AM

Are you planning to replace it? Those little libraries are pretty cool.

Joe

retiredguy123

03-11-2023, 07:21 AM

Note that some neighborhoods have a lending library inside the equipment room at the pool. Pine Hills is one.

NotGolfer

03-11-2023, 07:38 AM

We once were going to have the trash people pick up a large recliner we no longer could use because it was broken. We put it out beside our door and a "worker" going past had seen it. Credit him though as he rang our door-bell and asked if he could take it. I told him it was broken and he said he didn't care. I had to call the trash people to tell them not to come as it was gone. I agree with the others saying someone took the library thinking it was going in the trash anyway. It's amazing what is given away just by setting it out.

merrymini

03-11-2023, 07:47 AM

You can make all the excuses you want, sometimes people just suck.

MandoMan

03-11-2023, 07:59 AM

There are non-Villagers who drive through the area and pick up whatever people leave at the end of their driveway. It is very possible that someone just took it without realizing they were stealing something.

Almost certainly that is what happened. How were people like that to know? They’d probably never seen one. Some people live by taking what we throw away and selling it for a dollar—or furnish their houses with it. Sorry for your loss, though.

oneclickplus

03-11-2023, 08:00 AM

There are non-Villagers who drive through the area and pick up whatever people leave at the end of their driveway. It is very possible that someone just took it without realizing they were stealing something.

I concur. This was probably taken by someone with no intention to steal. "Little Free Library" has the word "free" in it and it was at the end of the driveway. While it may be found, I doubt it was a crime.

seecapecod

03-11-2023, 09:11 AM

LesPaul

03-11-2023, 10:06 AM

Maybe better to place the Little Free Library (and future free libraries) at the postal station(s).

Pairadocs

03-11-2023, 10:20 AM

There are non-Villagers who drive through the area and pick up whatever people leave at the end of their driveway. It is very possible that someone just took it without realizing they were stealing something.

Yes, of course ! Cruising through the Villages looking for most anything is routine. If you've ever come home very late (say from a late flight into Orlando) and seen the people who go through the waste reciprocals at the postal stations, and the old trucks that peruse the streets before dawn on garbage days... and then see something with "FREE LITTLE LIBRARY" written on it.... that's a disaster in the making. It's sickening to think there are people who would not even recognize those words as meaning a place where a person can take A BOOK FREE. In the world of so many, the idea of a "free little library" has only one meaning... take it, it's yours !

Pairadocs

03-11-2023, 10:28 AM

Agree that night scavengers got it. Maybe try a wagon that goes house- to -house in your neighborhood to distribute books.

And may I add another idea to that ? Could the neighborhood rec centers find a bit of space to have a "free" library, where residents could take the books they have read, and get a new book ? A kind of bring one, take one ? NOT thinking of boxes of donated books like come to the Friends of the Library group and are sold at low cost to support the library. Just thinking of neighborhood rec centers where resident's could bring one book they finished and trade for another. Worth a trial effort I would think, if it was abused and individuals came in and just took an arm load of books, it could be discontinued, but I think most neighborhoods would abide and benefit !

Pairadocs

03-11-2023, 10:35 AM

The pictured Little Free Library was lovingly built and donated by The Villages Habitat For Humanity Club for a resident of the Village of Summerhill and her neighbors. Please report at once if you have seen it. Rick @ 413-531-3020
97346

Did you report this to the local police along with the picture ? I know it would not be considered a high value items, but, in so many small communities on the edges of the villages, I have seen MANY homes whose front, sides, and backyards are just FILLED with an unbelievable range of diverse items in what appears to be a perpetual YARD SALE...one that never ENDS ! Zoning and covenants are unknown in many areas.

Tobys Dad

03-11-2023, 04:23 PM

theorem painter

03-11-2023, 08:34 PM

For those of you who aren't aware the "Little Free Library" is a 501 (c)3 that promotes neighborhood book exchanges. There are over 100,000 of these libraries registered all over the country. The cost of registering your "Library" is $40 and provides you with the sign that says Little Free Library. This Library that the Villagers Habitat Club built for the Villager of Summerhill was stolen between 2 and 3 PM when the homeowner was out running an errand.

Fastskiguy

03-11-2023, 09:21 PM

Hmmmmm….mid afternoon so may not be a salvager after all? But I just don’t understand the motivation for stealing it.

Joe

tophcfa

03-11-2023, 09:57 PM

The pictured Little Free Library was lovingly built and donated by The Villages Habitat For Humanity Club for a resident of the Village of Summerhill and her neighbors. Please report at once if you have seen it. Rick @ 413-531-3020
97346

What a shame. Hope it gets returned. You are from the 413?! Me too - Belchertown!

That sucks, my wife loves that book exchange. Also, we are from the 413 as well. I would be happy to build another one this summer when back up north where my tools are and bring it down in the back of my truck, but that wouldn’t be until the fall in the soonest. Send me a PM if interested.

Pairadocs

03-11-2023, 10:11 PM

I rolled my eyes so hard I think I strained them.
Must everything be political?

It appears so for some. I have not even heard of the governor having anything to do with "book banning" in neighborhoods, public libraries, books stores, or any place. Wasn't the only connection to books concerning in the public schools and connected to what is appropriate for the grade level ? That's been a consideration since public education began, parents and the general public expect school materials to be appropriate to grade/age levels. Good grief.... and all that over someones good heart and caring, to build something thoughtful and useful for one little neighborhood.... amazing how some people can twist every good deed !

Pairadocs

03-11-2023, 10:17 PM

That sucks, my wife loves that book exchange. Also, we are from the 413 as well. I would be happy to build another one this summer when back up north where my tools are and bring it down in the back of my truck, but that wouldn’t be until the fall in the soonest. Send me a PM if interested.

OMG you've renewed my faith in human nature, or at least our community here. After the remark about the governor even caring about your neighborhood exchange of books... :ohdear::ohdear::ohdear:

ducati1974

03-21-2023, 09:51 PM

What a shame. Hope it gets returned. You are from the 413?! Me too - Belchertown!
I"m from Springfield/East Longmeadow/West Springfield- my wife was living in Belchertown on Metacomet St when I met her!

ducati1974

03-21-2023, 09:56 PM

And may I add another idea to that ? Could the neighborhood rec centers find a bit of space to have a "free" library, where residents could take the books they have read, and get a new book ? A kind of bring one, take one ? NOT thinking of boxes of donated books like come to the Friends of the Library group and are sold at low cost to support the library. Just thinking of neighborhood rec centers where resident's could bring one book they finished and trade for another. Worth a trial effort I would think, if it was abused and individuals came in and just took an arm load of books, it could be discontinued, but I think most neighborhoods would abide and benefit !
The person who had the Little Library had approached TV with the idea of having them at Rec or Mailbox Centers- they were not interested.