Teresa and Jeremy Installed a Little Free Library!

Teresa and Jeremy, active participants in the Share Tompkins community, just installed a “Little Free Library” in front of their house! It’s an awesome way to share books with your neighbors. Here’s what Teresa has to say…

Little Free Libraries

The Little Free Libraries were started in Wisconsin in late 2010 as a way of promoting literacy and community through the use of small, publically accessible book exchanges. When my husband and I recently went back to Wisconsin for a friend’s wedding, we found ourselves charmed by the variety and number of Little Free Libraries in our old neighborhood, and decided to bring a little of that magic back to Ithaca with us.

Building

We spent some time thinking about how to build a weathertight yet accessible little box, but after looking at the plans available at their website and considering our meager construction skill, we decided to buy one made from recycled materials. However, someone with more time and ability than me could certainly put one together in a weekend or two from any combination of found, recycled, or purchased materials. Most of the ones we’ve seen are about the size of a small laundry basket, with a door to keep out the elements. One of the cleverer designs I’ve seen is actually the next-nearest Library – a repurposed phone kiosk just outside Syracuse University’s Library and Information Science department. Photo here

Location

We live on a busy street with a fair amount of foot, car, and bike
traffic, so we didn’t need to look farther than our own front yard. But other libraries are located in a wide variety of public and private places – outside of businesses, homes, and schools.

Books

We’re book fiends, and always have a stack of books to be passed along to other readers. Our Little Library is new, but I hope that it will become a neighborhood resource for exchanging beloved titles.

If you’d like to browse the Library and trade some books, or if you want a library of your own and want to see it in person, please stop by 1039 Hanshaw Rd. to check it out!

See you this Friday at the Really Really Free Market at Southside

Don’t forget, this Friday, 4-8pm at Congo Square Market at Southside Community Center, we’ll be hosting a Really Really Free Market. Bring stuff to give away, or just bring an empty tote bag and fill it up. I know we’re planning on bringing a lot of stuff ourselves, including housewares and office supplies – come take it so we don’t have to bring it back home!

Click here for more info about the event, RSVP on Facebook, and please tell your friends.

12/18: 3rd Annual Craft Swap and Really Really Free Market

Sunday, December 18, 2011, 2-4pm
The Space @ Greenstar
700 W Buffalo Street, Ithaca, NY

Mark your calendars, get out your knitting needles, brush off your art sets! Bring arts, crafts, food, and anything to swap or give away. Tell your friends, tell your families, tell your former enemies!

To get involved or for more information, contact Danny Bowers at dannybowers@gmail.com.

More details coming soon…

RSVP on Facebook

12/11: Ithaca Free Barter Market Grand Opening

Check out this event, organized by some Occupy Ithaca folks!

Sunday, December 11, 2011, 12-3pm
Dewitt Park, Ithaca

Come participate in the Ithaca Free Barter Market, a new community based trade event, using Ithaca Hours as a base currency. The event will be a truly free market, allowing free barter between people, as well as using Ithaca Hours as the backbone to facilitate trade. We are asking participants to bring things they want to sell or trade as well as submit a lists of things you have to sell or want to buy so that we can compile them. If you have Ithaca Hours, please bring them to the event, if you don’t we will be providing micro loans as seed money. If you have questions or comments, feel free to email Lucas Bonnet at Whirlingdervishofrevolution@gmail.com

RSVP on Facebook

March 24: Book Swap Co-sponsored by the MLK Community Build

Share Tompkins and the MLK Community Build are co-sponsoring a community book swap!

Thursday, March 24, 6-8pm
The Kops/Klock/Muller Household
322 South Geneva St., Ithaca, NY

-Drop off books in readable condition or better, and swap them for books that are new to you.

-Sign up for a spot to recite your favorite poem or read an excerpt from a special book during Literary Open Mic time.

To make swapping super easy, we are trying out the process of swapping like for like:
Give a paperback, get a paperback.
Give a children’s book, get a children’s book, etc.

Also available will be FREE copies of the special edition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last book, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” printed specifically for the people of Ithaca and Tompkins County through the vision and efforts of the MLK Community Build.

Children’s book donations will be accepted for distribution to the Family Reading Partnership’s Bright Red Book Shelf program, which recirculates gently used children’s books back into the community where they are made available free for families to own.

Usually we ask that unwanted items be taken back, but in this case, all leftover books will be donated to the Family Reading Partnership and Friends of the Library.

SO BRING YOUR UNWANTED BOOKS AND READ SOMETHING NEW!

RSVP on Facebook

January 26: Community Potluck and Swap Meet

Our 15th swap is being hosted by the Jones-Rounds family…

Community Potluck and Swap Meet
Wednesday, January 26, 5-8pm
At the Jones-Rounds’ House
713 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY

RSVP on Facebook.

Barter, trade, or give away…
– Children and baby clothing, toys, and gear
– Electronics, instruments, CDs, tapes, DVDs, and books
– Winter clothing
– Fresh produce or preserved food
– Services such as massage, graphic design, health care, gardening, yoga
…and much, much more!

Bring a dish to pass if you can, or just check out the goods being offered.

We’ll also do a demo of GoGoVerde, a website where we can post offers and requests between our in-person events.

For more information, contact McKenzie at grasswriter@gmail.com or 717-903-4871.

Get what you need in your very own neighborhood, for barter or worse!

Photos: Share Tompkins 2nd Annual Holiday Swap & Crafting Jamboree – Dec ’10

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Share Tompkins 2nd Annual Holiday Swap & Crafti…, posted with vodpod

Dec 18: Holiday Swap and Crafting Jamboree at Southside

Saturday, December 18, Noon-3pm
Southside Community Center
305 S. Plain St, Ithaca, NY

Strapped for cash? Like working with your hands? Check off everyone on your list by swapping and making your own gifts this holiday season!

All are welcome to this FREE event. Barter for goodies with your neighbors or make one-of-a-kind gifts at the crafting station run by Ithaca Freeskool. As always, there will be a free area for people who want to give stuff away.

Hosted and co-sponsored by the Southside Community Center.

RSVP on Facebook

You can post haves/wants to the Wall of this event on Facebook or to the Share Tompkins email list.

What to bring:
– Materials for craft-making: decorative paper, markers, fabric,etc.
– Food: teas, baked goods, jams, chocolate, etc.
– Body Care: tinctures, soaps, creams, etc.
– Handmade Crafts: ceramics, candles, art, etc.
– Stuff: electronics, housewares, books, etc.
– Services: massage, yoga, music lessons, etc.
– Bags, boxes and carts to take stuff home in

Guidelines:
– Our goal is sustainability – please bring stuff that is locally-grown or made from local materials if possible, but anything is welcome!
– Be prepared to take back home with you whatever you don’t end up bartering or giving away. Left-over items will be donated appropriately.
– Please bring stuff that is in good condition or can be easily-repaired – no junk!

Please spread the word even if you can’t come!

Photos: Sound Swap at the Ithaca Sound Maze

Our first ever Sound Swap was a great success. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful fall day full of sunshine, corn, music and swapping! Thanks to the Ithaca Sound Maze for being such a wonderful host.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Share Tompkins Sound & Music Swap – Oct ’10, posted with vodpod

An Interesting Example of Sharing/Bartering from Craigslist TV