Little Free Library No. 15,424 is down but not out.

We knew, of course, when we created it, that a small unguarded book cabinet would be subject to vandalism* and the other perils of Old Town Eureka. But after the first month—this was a year ago—my wife Louisa and I relaxed and delighted in the sense that our modest community project was providing a service and enjoying a certain level of respect within the transient population where we live. Books came and went regularly, the whole operation was simple and smooth. And for folks who couldn’t take books out of the Big Free Library (for the lack of a home address), it was a real benefit.

That was until last Monday, when the door was ripped off, along with half of one side, leaving our book-cabinet in such a sorry state that it’s currently closed for repairs. We were out of town at the time—and still are—so I don’t know if this will be a glue-and-new-parts job or a full replacement. The next few days will tell.

The formal concept of ‘Take a Book-Leave a Book’ began in Hudson, Wisconsin in 2009, when Todd Bol “mounted a wooden container designed to look like a school house on a post on his lawn, as a tribute to his mother, who was a book lover and school teacher” (quoting Wikipedia). By the time we got into the game in 2014, over 15,000 Little Free Libraries had registered with the LFL non-profit.

We have the perfect location for a LFL next to our home: the alcove entrance to the Redwood Curtain Theatre in Snug Alley, where the box is protected from natural (but not human!) elements, and where it’s lit at night. The theatre folks, including Gil and Rebecca, our two co-stewards, are enthusiastic supporters.

We were heartbroken to see the photos of our damaged “baby,” emailed us by a friend. On the other, the whole thing cost less than $50 (thank you Rescue Mission Thrift Store) and a few hours labor. So now repair/replace/start over. It’s a disappointment, not a tragedy, aka Life.

(* The Vandals, an East Germanic tribe who tangled repeatedly with the Roman Empire, weren’t nearly as bad as the verb “vandalize” implies. Most modern historians consider their culture to be quite as civilized as that of the Romans.)

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Barry Evans gave the best years of his life to civil engineering, and what thanks did he get? In his dotage, he travels, kayaks, meditates and writes for the Journal and the Humboldt Historian. He sucks at 8 Ball. Buy his Field Notes anthologies at any local bookstore. Please.