Checking Out SoBo’s Little Free Libraries

The generous “take a book, leave a book” ethic of the Little Free Library is still strong across the South Baltimore peninsula as the number of these diminutive sidewalk structures continues to grow.

In the Peninsula Post’s first survey of the Little Free Library landscape in early 2021, we found 10 libraries. That number rose to 14 in our second survey, published in our February 2023 newspaper edition (page 4). Our third survey conducted this month counted 16 structures.

Here’s a list of all 16, arranged in geographic order, west to east, across the peninsula (see map).

1. Henrietta St. at the intersection with S. Sharp St. (northern edge of Solo Gibbs Park)
2. Unit block of E. Wheeling St. near S. Charles St.
3. Birckhead St. at the corner of Patapsco St. – A unique library inside a repurposed newspaper box
4. 100 block of E. Churchill St.
5. Federal Hill Preparatory School, 1040 William St.
6. 100 block of E. Randall St.
7. Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1530 Battery Ave., on the corner of E. Randall St.
8. Rash Field Park, 201 Key Hwy., in the “BGE Nature Play” area – This library was recently reinstalled and is currently in need of books
9. American Visionary Art Museum’s Sculpture Garden, 800 Key Hwy. – Accessible only during museum hours (Weds-Sun), this library is currently in need of books
10. 400 block of Grindall St.
11. Henry Street Park, 1240 Henry St.
12. Stack St. near the intersection with E. Fort Ave.
13. E. Heath St. at the corner of Webster St. – This new library is possibly the largest one in SoBo
14. McHenry Row, across the street from the northeast corner of the Harris Teeter parking garage, near Porter St.
15. E. Clement St. at the corner of Hull St. in Locust Point
16. Locust Point Recreation Center, 1627 E. Fort Ave.

If you find (or build) a new Little Free Library anywhere on the SoBo peninsula, please drop us a note at editor@sobopost.org. – Steve Cole