The Front Porch Library is a children’s neighborhood lending library that gets books into the hands of kids to promote literacy, community, and fun.
FAQ’s:
Q: How many books do you have in your library?
A: We have about 1,200 books cataloged in our collection — which is pretty extraordinary when you consider that our physical space is only about 6 ft by 8 ft. Chapter books, series books, nonfiction, poetry and joke books are all shelves. Picture books and board books are in crates that we unstack and spread out on the porch and yard during library hours.
Q: Don’t you have problems maintaining a library collection in an outdoor space?
A: Yes, we do. There are particularly humid days when the covers on the paperbacks all start curling and the posters are falling from the walls. There are days in the winter when the temperature changes dramatically and our stucco walls are literally weeping. We’ve countered that by using some cabinets with doors and by covering the other shelves when the library is not in use.
Q: Do you accept book donations?
A: Yes, we accept new and gently used children’s books.
Q: Are there any particular kinds of books you need?
A: We would like to have more nonfiction books and more board books.
Q: What do you do with the books you can not use in your library?
A: Some become part of the children’s library at Hope Community. Some are given to children to keep. And the ones that are particularly dated or religious-themed are taken to Goodwill.
Q: How are your books cataloged?
A: They are simply numbered by the date they were received and entered into our collection. The collection list is kept in a simple spreadsheet computer file. To check out a book, children simply write down the number of the book they want to borrow on the index card we keep at the library, a.k.a. their “library card.”
Q: How many books can be checked out at a time?
A: Children can check out up to 4 books at a time. No due dates.
Q: Can I come see your library?
A: Sure. You are welcome during regular library hours. But contact us first please.
Q: Can I volunteer at your library?
A: Most of our volunteers come from our own neighborhood. For our monthly programs we often have help from FSU’s Circle K International. We welcome volunteers from outside the neighborhood; however, we only accept volunteers who are able to come weekly during our library hours, who can commit to a semester or more of volunteering, and who have a vested interest in our mission.
Q: Can I donate money to The Front Porch Library? Is The Front Porch Library a 501(c)3 organization?
A: YES, we would most certainly accept a monetary donation; but, we do not have 501(c)3 status yet. Contact us and we will fill you in on the details of our budget and how your money would be put to good use.
Q: What if I didn’t get my question answered here?
A: Contact Kary at frontporchlibrary (at) gmail [dot] com for more juicy details.
