Talking Free Little Libraries in Wichita

January 4, 2024

Wichita Public Library is placing 26 little FREE libraries through Southeast Wichita, Kansas. They hope this program will help the community and serve as a bridge to the bigger public libraries. These “pop-up” libraries are popular, and some people have even installed them in their own yards.

You can find these libraries from Planeview up to Linwood Park and Hydraulic over to South Oliver.

What makes these little libraries unique?

There are 26 of these little libraries, one for each letter of the alphabet.
Each of the 26 letter libraries will have letter recognition and the sound of the letters when you open the door.
Volunteers painted each little library with guidance from City Arts.
Wichita Public Libraries will be providing the books for the libraries.
Anyone can use the libraries, and it’s FREE to use.
The idea is for you to take and book and leave a book.
The goal is to have 26 little libraries in each of the Wichitas 6 districts in the future.

Locations of the Little Libraries:

A: Fire Station 11, 1845 George Washington Blvd.
B: Fire Station 22, 22 E. Denker St.
C: Ascension Via Christi Property Services, 1131 S. Clifton Ave.
D: Department of Children and Families, 2601 S. Oliver
E: Neighborhood Residence, 2032 S. Terrace Dr.
F: Lincoln Park, 1323 S. Topeka St.
G: Neighborhood Residence, 1515 S. Ellis
H: Neighborhood Residence, 2719 E. Timberlane
I: Stearman Park, 3500 E. Cessna
J: Bread of Life, 1301 E. Galena St.
K: Schweiter Park, 900 S. Chautauqua
L: Linwood Elementary, 1654 S. Hydraulic
M: Neighborhood Residence, 1506 E. 59^th St.
N: Herman Hill: Water Center, 101 E. Pawnee St.
O: Holly Park Apartments, 5323 E. Harry St.
P: Paxton’s Blessing Box, 2820 S. Roosevelt St.
Q: Leon Robinson Park, 2700 S. Washington
R: Neighborhood Residence, 2030 S. Lulu
S: Child’s Horizon Preschool, 2221 S. Oliver
T: Wichita Transit Bus Stop, 45^th & Hydraulic
U: Caldwell Elementary, 1441 S. Edgemoor
V: Visit & Exchange Program, 910 S. Bluffview Dr.
W: Wichita Transit Bus Stop, 31^st & Seneca
X: Harry Street Elementary, 1605 S. Market
Y: Anderson Elementary, 2945 S. Victoria
Z: Hillside Feed and Seed, 1805 S. Hillside

Click HERE to see what you can check out for FREE at Wichita Public Libraries.

“Strategic investments in family engagement and early literacy efforts are critical as new parents learn about the library and the multitude of ways the library and community partners collaborate to help them raise a reader,” said Jaime Nix, Director of Libraries. “We want to make sure Wichita’s parents and caregivers are aware of how Wichita Public Library can help and how we can connect them to additional resources at their neighborhood branch.”

More information about the Little Free Libraries, including a printable and interactive map of library locations, can be found at wichitalibrary.org.