Little Library Founder Wants 30 More Boxes Added By 30th Birthday

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — More than 100 little libraries have popped up all over St. Petersburg since last summer. While that's an impressive number of places to find and swap books, it's not enough for the project's founder.

Kristine Dowhan, 29, wants to add 30 additional Little Free Libraries by her 30th birthday on Feb. 4. Dowhan, a book lover who read 80 books in 2020, has put 121 boxes in 100 locations as of Jan. 15. The first little library went up on July 3 next to a phone booth, and two days later, she officially established the St. Pete Shush project.

“It was just me and six others who I had just gifted stands to,” Dowhan said in a Patch interview. “I didn’t know if anyone else would be interested. I was certainly proven wrong, as the project took off quickly.”

In the beginning, she had a lot of her own books she wanted to donate to the community, so she asked the Tampa Bay Times for newsstand boxes she could fill with books. The idea was simple, take a book and leave a book. The news outlet gifted her with many newsstands she refurbished by washing, sanding, and applying new paint. After completion, she delivered the boxes to its new home.

“Most of my focus goes toward supporting our librarians,” Dowhan said. “I provide the stand, but they are the one who bring the books to the community through their stewardship. I love when they send me photos and stories from visitors of their little libraries. Many have shared that this project and their library are what has kept them going through the pandemic.”

The project has also given Dowhan positive meaning during the coronavirus pandemic. It has become a second full-time job for her with 142 librarians that have joined the group so far. She said 30 more will soon join the group.

“The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig is a favorite book she discovered in 2020.

“It was a beautiful story about what can happen if you choose to live. I understand where the main character is coming from when she questions if life is worth living, and I think a lot of us have struggled with this during the pandemic, so it really hit home.

To find a Free Little Library near you, visit its online map.

If you want to donate to her 30 for 30 project, you can offer support at donate.StPeteShush.com, or follow the project on Facebook.