By Sharon Bloudek, September 18, 2020
A Neighborhood Treasure: Little Free Libraries
With the start of the distance-learning school year, I can’t help but reflect on all of the things our family is missing about being in “real” school this fall. My youngest daughter, a brand-new first-grader, is missing weekly trips to visit the school library with her class. She loves to discover and bring home new books for bedtime reading.
We’re fortunate though: several of Little Free Library boxes are scattered around our neighborhood, always well-stocked, always ready for a curious reader to browse. These little book boxes are beloved and visited often!
Little Free Library began in 2009 in Wisconsin. A gentleman there built a tiny model of a one-room schoolhouse and stuffed it with books. A little over 10 years later, there are over 90,000 book exchanges that are registered/branded as Little Free Libraries!
In COVID times, Little Free Library is a way to share your love of reading with your neighbors! You can build your own Little Free Library in a weekend; you can even purchase a DIY kit from the Little Free Library website, or search online for inspiration. Some of my favorites? A Little Free Library with a green roof, one that is custom-built and painted to match the house it sits in front of, or one with a built-in bench—you don’t have to wait until you’re home to dig into your new novel! Most Little Free Libraries have at least two shelves—one for adult titles and one for children’s titles. And they all operate with an unofficial “leave a book, take a book” agreement.
Keep an eye open for a Little Free Library in your neighborhood—and if you don’t see one, well, that’s all the more reason to build your own!
Sharon Bloudek
Principal Broker | OR
She/Her
Sharon is a Licensed Principal Broker in Oregon with 17 years of experience in the real estate industry. With a Business Degree in Marketing/Management from Loyola Marymount University, an MBA from the University of Oregon, and international business studies at the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark, Sharon brings a strategic and diverse perspective to her role.
Leading the #1 team at Living Room Realty alongside Beth Benner, Sharon has earned recognition in the top 1% of the RMLS and is a long-time member of PMAR's Masters Circle Diamond Platinum Level.
Sharon’s integrity, expertise, and commitment to excellence are what make her standout. She has served more than 450 homeowners over the years, leveraging her strong industry relationships and dedication to her clients to deliver exceptional results. Sharon is also an active participant in the local real estate investment scene, using her comprehensive market knowledge to inform her investment decisions.
Originally from Southern California, Sharon has called Portland home for 20 years. Beyond her real estate career, she has served as a Board Member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest, has a passion for pickleball, basketball, and softball, and enjoys a fulfilling family life with her three children.
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- T: 503-701-1000
- sharon@bridgetoportland.com
