Little Libraries have become a staple around communities throughout Southeast Idaho, some attached to a national association but many, such as the ones organized by the Snake River School Community Library, are operating independently.

Sherrilynn Bair, library director for the Snake River School Community Library, said the library started their Little Libraries program about 15 years ago.

“There are two types of programs. One is official, and you pay a fee to have your Little Library registered with them,” she said. “We chose not to do the official one. We do it independently.”

Bair said their Little Libraries program got started after she was traveling and saw one and thought it was a great idea. She did some research and realized it was something she could start in the Snake River School District on an informal basis.

The rules governing the Little Libraries are pretty simple. Take a book if you want to, leave a book if you want to. No library card is needed and returning the book you take is not required.

“One of the surprising and fun things is some people will come and take a book and leave something other than a book,” Bair said. “I just went to one, and there was a little tiny four-inch easel and a little piece of art on it with a note saying they had just done this and wanted someone to have it.”

For those wondering where the Little Libraries are located, just go to the Snake River School Community Library’s website, snakeriverlibrary.com and click on the drop box titled “Our Library.” Listed in the drop box is a link for “Little Libraries.”

Click on that, and a map will appear with the locations of the eight Little Libraries the Snake River School Community Library maintains. Just below the map are the addresses of all eight Little Libraries.

“I think we have the community pretty well saturated,” Bair said. “There are a couple of new subdivisions that might be a good location.”

Bair said the library tries to monitor what types of books are best suited for each location. For example, she said, is there is a Little Library located near and bus stop for the Idaho National Laboratory shuttle system; that location is better suited for books geared toward adults while a location at a park tends to do much better with children’s books.

She also said the library will often get a bit of help maintaining the Little Libraries.

“This year we have a [high school] senior whose senior project is updating the existing Little Libraries and keeping them stocked with books,” she said.

Bair has also taken note that hers are not the only Little Libraries out in the community.

“It’s kind of grown organically,” she said. “There are some subdivisions where families have them. People see them and decide they want to do something in their neighborhood.”

Bair has said she has seen them around town, including the one out in front of the Basalt City Offices. She said those are handled by private individuals and not part of the Snake River School Community Library’s system.