Building Community & Literacy with a Little Free Library: Interview with Samantha Baker

Have you ever walked around your community and come across a small, wooden case with several books sitting inside? These are called Little Free Libraries, which are book exchange boxes installed voluntarily by community members to inspire local readers and expand book access.

To learn more, FIS spoke with Samantha Baker, who recently set up her own Little Free Library near her home in Central LA.

What inspired you to install a Little Free Library?

It came from noticing a lack of connection both in my neighborhood and more broadly. People live close together, but there aren’t many shared spaces where interaction can happen naturally. Books feel like one of the most accessible creative tools we have. The Little Free Library felt like a small but tangible way to invite curiosity, creativity, and connection back into everyday life.

Where did you get the books, and how did you get it built?

I’ve been collecting donated books from friends and family for months, so I had a stash of books on hand to share. I personally funded building this Little Free Library since I had been wanting to do so for at least 5 years. I finally live in a place that could accommodate one, so I reached out to my landlord and asked if I could revitalize the space between my home and the sidewalk. Once I shared how meaningful it could be for the neighborhood, he warmed up to the idea, so I moved forward with it a few months ago. I purchased the box, decorated it, and hired a local handyman to install it, who loved the idea of working together on this project.

Did you have any hesitations or challenges in making this Little Free Library?

I hesitated at first on whether it would be used or whether I was equipped to maintain it long-term as a renter, but life has taught me that things don’t need to be perfect to be impactful. Once I let go of that idea, it became much easier to move forward. The library could evolve, just like any other creative project or art installation.

What have you observed since installing the library?

What I’ve noticed most is how it slows people down. Kids linger, adults pause, and conversations start where none would have otherwise. That’s been so heartwarming to see. It feels like the library gives people permission to engage, whether that’s through choosing a book, leaving one, or sharing a moment. It’s subtle, but it’s shifted the energy of the space from something people move through to something they momentarily belong to. That’s been incredibly affirming.

How do you think access to books and spaces like this impacts communities?

Creativity is how I’ve always made sense of the world, and books offer children that same entry point. They invite imaginative play and allow kids to create immersive, inner worlds where their thoughts and ideas are valued. That kind of access gives children a safe, empowering space to escape to when the world feels heavy while reinforcing that their intelligence and imagination matter. Books represent a doorway that invites reflection and empathy. When access to literature is free and informal, it removes barriers and pressure. When children and families see that creativity and learning are valued in their neighborhood, it strengthens the idea that they’re part of something shared and that they matter in it.

What would you say to someone thinking about installing one?

I’d tell them to think about relationships as much as logistics. Take time to understand the space and the people who already inhabit it. You don’t need to have everything figured out—you can just start small. Think of it less as installing an object and more as opening a conversation. If your intention is to offer creativity and connection, the community will meet you there. This library represents my commitment to my community and neighbors. My hope is to foster accessible imagination, and a year from now, I hope my Little Free Library continues to be a part of my neighborhood’s everyday magic.

You are an example of how one individual can make an impact on the literacy crisis in LA. How can more residents across Los Angeles help create a larger movement by also installing Little Free Libraries?

In a city as vast as Los Angeles, neighborhood-level efforts matter. One small wooden box of books won’t solve systemic inequities, but multiplied across communities, it can change a child’s daily access to imagination and literacy, which is powerful. Community isn’t built through ownership; it’s built through participation.