I have had a little free library for several years now that I love and my neighbors keep refilling so I've been thinking of finding an old outdoor cabinet with drawers and adding a sign 'ye old junk drawer swap'. The cabinet would sit under an arbor next to the sidewalk. If someone did this in your neighborhood, would you be happy or upset? Can you think of a good reason not to do this?
Is a junk drawer swap library a bad idea?
byu/Firm_Relative_7283 inFrugal
Posted by Firm_Relative_7283
9 Comments
If you did, I’d advise on clear doors.
Prepare to say “this is why we can’t have nice things” when you find it empty or full of actual garbage.
I like the idea in theory. There’s this store called East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse that’s pretty much “the box of craft supplies under your bed just in case” in the form of a store.
No need for the box under the bed!
I think your neighbors may not like the idea, but poll them. Go around door to door. A seed swap they would probably really like. Use shoe boxes to help you organize them…
Might be helpful in tough economic times. Maybe post some guidelines that specify that the items still needs to be functional and clean so you don’t end up with just garbage. I’d put it beside/near the Little Library so that folx who enjoy that concept would be likely to help maintain it or at least be nearby to more likely use it or see the items. Might also be kinda helpful to have a little pencil on a string by a notepad “wishlist” so people could note what they need so neighborhood could see that someone is looking for “lightbulbs” or “kitchen utensils” or “AA batteries” or whatever.
I’ve always known these as Free Boxes and I’ve seen everything from small boxes on the roadside to full on free standing sheds full of clothes and household goods.
It can be a great resource but they take a lot of looking after because they can quickly turn into dumping grounds if no one is paying attention to them.
The most successful ones I’ve seen are community efforts where neighbors or volunteers share the responsibility of upkeep and filtering out the junk from the useful stuff.
While I like the idea, I think having drawers full of potenitally sharp materials might not be the safest. I’d worry about something falling into the wrong hands.
Yes. This will get filled with actual junk fast and nobody visits free libraries for household tools. Plus anyone can take something and use it as a weapon.
This reminds me of something: an old lady I used to know had a monthly party with her friends. They all brought something from their homes they no longer wanted. They wrapped them and then exchanged “gifts.”
Calling it a “junk drawer swap” seems like it would invite junk.