Why I set up a Little Free Library at a Funeral Home, and Why You Should Too!

By Tori Monforte, Cherokoee Memorial & CFDA Secretary

Driving or walking through your local neighborhood or downtown area, you may have noticed little boxes with books in them. Often, they are labeled as a “Little Free Library”. These little nooks usually hold books, though sometimes they may hold other items. The idea of these little book depositories is to encourage the public to exchange books with each other. The idea is that you take a book from the box, return it when you’re done reading it, or put your own books in the box for others to borrow.

The first Little Free Library was built in 2009 by Todd Bol in Hudson, Wisconsin. He mounted a wooden container on a post on his lawn and filled it with books, sharing his recently deceased mother’s love of books with his community. The idea spread quickly, and while Todd Bol’s original vision was to set up over 2,000 libraries, over 150,000 exist today, and are present in 115 countries. There is even a Little Free Library in Antarctica! 

When thinking of a cemetery as a community of its own, we must consider the important issues of the visitors of that community. People come to a cemetery to grieve, honor, and share memories of those laid to rest in that space. It is those living visitors who have their own struggles. We know, as death care professionals, that grief continues long after the casket is lowered or the urn is sealed. We also know, as humans, that we may not always vocalize the need for help, nor do we always know what it is we need help with.

Having knowledge of the effects of death on our families, we try to help. We can offer resources, such as grief support groups, annual remembrance services, and aftercare services that send cards of hope and encouragement.

But what about silent grief sufferers? There are those in emotional pain who visit a cemetery after the office has closed, or those who don’t wish to discuss their grief in a public setting. These people may not wish to have their grief directly addressed by an outside source.

It was for these people that we set up a Little Free Grief Library at Cherokee Memorial Park and Funeral Home in Lodi, California. Reaching visitors who silently suffered was the goal, but we didn’t know who these people were or what they might need.

Because we didn’t know who we needed to reach, we stocked our Little Free Grief Library with a variety of books from numerous sources. Some books were from the monthly Grief Support Group offered at our funeral home, some were sourced online, both used and new, and others were brought in by staff. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on books! You can even check your local thrift store for the right books. Our goal is to provide spiritual, non-spiritual, adult, teen, and children’s titles to appeal to all types of people. We even added some in Spanish.

How to set up your own Little Free Grief Library:

Build or purchase a kiosk: There are a variety of box plans, kits, or ready to place Library boxes available on internet retail sites. Check reviews or go to www.littlefreelibrary.org for ideas and resources.

Place your Library: Find a good location to “plant” your library. You may need to dig a post hole and fortify it with concrete or wood or make or buy a stand for it.

Label or decorate your kiosk: A box of books standing in a funeral home or cemetery may seem daunting or unnoticed by passersby. Label the door, sides, or put up a separate sign to tell the public what this new item is and how it can help.

Stock your library: Source new or gently used books from anywhere. Local bookstores, online retailers, garage sales or secondhand stores can help you locate the right books for your library. I recommend you read through your titles to ensure that the messages are positive and helpful.

Advertise your library: By setting up positive social media posts, our location was noticed by our local newspaper. Our location was featured on the front page of the local newspaper and in a post on their social media, with a thoughtfully and well written piece showcasing our Little Free Grief Library along with the other grief resources we offer to our community. Ask your social media followers to bring in their own resources to add to the library to encourage community participation.

Library Upkeep: Your little library should be checked often to note the number of books present. Check to make sure it is tidy and organized, and if vandalism occurs, fix it and keep on going. Your resources are helping more people to navigate their grief, and an occasional vandal may happen. Have a few books ready to stock should you experience a sudden rush. If you offer a grief support group, place brochures in your library to let people know they can attend. 

Remember, you know your community, your business, and your families. Setting up extra resources is helpful to you and your families, and doesn’t have to cost a lot!