Little Free Library

Abhay, Allen, Tanya

03.14.2018

Partner - Jenny Wood

Topics

1. Introduction
2. Design Process
3. Analysis
4. Conclusion
5. References / Appendices

Why?

• Create bookcase to store and make accessible school’s excess books
• Encourage reading within low-income communities and literacy rates.

Introduction

The Problem

• ROMO has no library
• Has an excess of level of books
• Wants to make books accessible to their school and neighboring community

Community Partner Requirements

Customer Needs: a visually-appealing, kid-friendly, capacious Little Free Library

Current Solution: expensive, cannot be customized to display school’s name, and incapable of holding the number of books the community partner would like to store

Key Differentiators: customized, cheap, and spacious

Design Process

Alternate Solutions?

• Concrete Base design as a rectangular box
• Larger bookcase with 3 shelves instead of 2.5
• No support System
• Extra Roofing
• Text Location

Initial Design Process

Final Design

Civic Issues: attending school is mandatory, visiting the public library isn’t.

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Societal Impact: promotes literacy and cultivates generosity

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Cost: expensive to construct without sponsorship

Getting the Materials

• Sponsorship!
• HD Supply
• Materials: Paint, Acrylic Glass, Nails, Door Latch, 4x4 wood, 6’ x 8’ plywood

DIGGING THE HOLE

Materials

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Auger

Shovels

Installing the post

Cutting the pieces

The Door + Fin

Attaching Pieces Together

Actual Outcome

What’s done?

• Procuring Supplies
• Cut all plywood and wooden dowels to size
• Set Wood post at ROMO
• Painted fins and door frame
• Attached baseboard to 3 side walls and middle shelf
• Laser cutting cardboard stencil for painting

What’s left?

• Attaching the Roof, small shelf, front wall, and door
• Paint the main structure
• Add Magnets to the door
• Add Stencils and Sponsors for design purposes
• Install Library at Romo

Our Plan:

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• Work again on weekdays after finals
• Contact Maker Lab for Spring Break hours
• Goal → Get project delivered during Spring Break

Expected Key Results

• Hold estimated at 50+80 books
• 2 shelves
• Keep door closed and weatherproofed
• Spaceship design, ROMO color scheme, and School name

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Costs of Little Free Library

https://littlefreelibrary.myshopify.com/

Qualitative & Quantitative Project Specifications

Qualitative specifications:

• Inviting
• Capable
• Accessible
• Safe

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Quantitative

• Cost no more than $100
• Hold 300 lbs of books
• Completed by 10 weeks

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Testing & Prototyping

• Challenges:
• Staying in Ideation Phase (Drawing CAD design) for too long
• Setting values for the standard book
• Finding Funding for the Project
• Double checking Measurements
• Making straight cuts with power tools, even with a guide
• Finding a Router
• Digging a 3 foot hole
• Adjusting the wide ranging tolerances of the wood

Analysis + Implementation

Analysis

• Promotes literacy
• Instills empathy and discipline
• Cultivates generosity
• Seen as substitutes instead of complements to public libraries

Implementation

• Easy access
• Involving community

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Success of Project

• Successfully completed the processes of ideation, designing, and prototyping
• Began execution and integration of Little Free Library parts
• Completion and installation remains
• Brings value to target customer

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Conclusion

Recommendations + Acknowledgements

Recommendation:

Could enhance impact by organizing activities around and for the Little Free Library

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Acknowledgements:

We would like to express our deep gratitude for Jenny, Dr. JAK, Max our peers for their time, effort, and feedback.

Tamesh, Benito, and HD Supplies for their guidance and support.

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References

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Little Free Library Models: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owKTng0HoCY

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Todd Bol: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5TJH5hmRE8&t=274s

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Sample blueprint: :https://littlefreelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Kalamazoo-LFL-Plans.pdf

Sample Assembly :https://littlefreelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/LFL-Building-Design_6.17.13.pdf

Atlantic Article

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/04/americans-like-their-libraries-but-they-use-them-less-and-less-pew/477336/

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Appendices

Questions?

Thank You!