Hickory Hill Little Free Library

Why this matters

A little library, by the community, for the neighborhood

A small, welcoming amenity that brings neighbors together — funded by us, built by us, stocked by us, and maintained by us. No cost to the HOA.

Hi neighbors! I'm Julie Tashner. My family and I moved into Hickory Hill last November and we love it here! I have some exciting news to share — after submitting a proposal to the HOA Board this spring, I received unanimous approval to install a Little Free Library at the footpath entrance on Manor Garden Lane, close to my home so I can properly steward the Library.

I've had the joy of being a Little Free Library steward at my previous home for over 5 years and saw firsthand how something so simple can quietly bring a neighborhood closer together. Kids stop by on walks, neighbors swap books, and it just becomes part of the rhythm of the street. I can't wait to bring that here to Hickory Hill.

I financed and built my last library myself, but now that I live in a neighborhood, I'd love help from the community to fund or build a library that fits within our community standards. This will be a community library that I simply maintain and steward. Any extra funds raised will go straight into a maintenance reserve for future minor repairs as needed, so I won't be asking the community again unless something major happens.

The plan

Two paths, one library

Whichever comes together first is the one we build.

Option A

Built by a neighbor

~$60–$210

Scrap materials, donated lumber
Built by a Hickory Hill resident
Community engagement

Option B

Pre-built kit

~$540–$580

Handcrafted composite construction
Built to last for years outdoors
Ready to install on arrival

More about Option A

Hickory Hill is a big neighborhood, and there's a good chance someone among us has the skills, tools, and maybe even leftover lumber to take this on. If you're a woodworker, weekend DIYer, or know someone whose garage is full of project supplies — I'd love to talk!

This could also be a great project for a Scout troop working toward an Eagle project, a school shop class, or a local woodworking club. Any resident-built library would still meet the same standards as a purchased one: weather-resistant materials, a 4×4" pressure-treated post in concrete, and a final design reviewed by the ARC before installation. Whoever builds it will absolutely get their name on it.

More about Option B

If no neighborhood builder steps forward, we'd purchase a pre-built library directly from the official Little Free Library nonprofit shop. Their libraries are handcrafted in Wisconsin and engineered specifically for outdoor durability.

My recommended model is the Composite Double Door Cottage at $439.95 — the largest composite model offered. The composite material (recycled plastic lumber, similar to high-end outdoor furniture) resists rot, fading, and insect damage, requiring little to no maintenance for years. Comparable models range from $299.95–$439.95 and can be browsed at littlefreelibrary.org/shop. Final model and color would be confirmed with the ARC before purchase.

What happens next

Our roadmap to opening day

My timeline is "sooner than later"; I'd love the Library open this summer! Here are the five steps to get our library on Manor Garden Lane!

Plan the library

Fundraise, find a builder (or order the kit), and gather scrap materials

ARC design + installation approval

Submit final design, color, and location to the ARC for sign-off

Build + install

Construct the library and mount it at the Manor Garden Lane footpath

Stock the library

Fill the shelves with donated books from neighbors across the community

Grand opening celebration!

Cut the ribbon, meet your neighbors, and take home your first book

Good questions

A few things neighbors have asked

If you have a question that isn't covered here, just reach out — I'd love to chat.

Why the Manor Garden Lane footpath, and not the pavilion?

A few neighbors suggested the pavilion, and I get the appeal — it's central. But the footpath entrance is close to my home, which lets me do quick daily checks, restock as needed, and keep an eye on things. That kind of active stewardship is what keeps a small amenity looking cared for instead of neglected.

Who maintains it, and what does that actually mean?

I do — happily, and for as long as I live in Hickory Hill. That means regular inspections, cleaning, tidying the area around it, and occasional touch-ups, and rotating in fresh selections so the shelves don't get stale.

If I ever move or become unable to maintain the library, I'll either transfer stewardship to another willing neighbor or remove the library and restore the area. The HOA will never inherit it as a problem.

Where do the books come from?

From all of us! Books for the library will come from community donations and free/secondhand sources — I won't be buying new books for it. The whole point of a Little Free Library is the natural "take a book, leave a book" flow, and a healthy library mostly stocks itself once it's up and running.

When the library is open, I'll put out a call for donations. I'll keep a backstock of donated books in my home and will keep an eye on the library shelves to supplement when needed.

Will it be on the official Little Free Library world map?

No — and this was a deliberate choice. The Little Free Library nonprofit offers official registration, which puts the library on a public, searchable map. That's great for public roadside libraries, which my last library was, and that means it could also draw visitors from outside the neighborhood into our shared spaces.

Since this will sit in a Hickory Hill common area, I'd rather keep it as a private neighborhood amenity. If the community or Board ever prefers we register it down the road, I'll happily do that.

What if you raise more money than the library costs?

Any extra goes straight into a maintenance reserve held separately for the library — for minor repairs, replacement hardware, fresh paint or sealant down the road, that kind of thing.

If a major repair is ever needed (e.g., storm damage that exceeds the reserve), I'd ask the community for help on that specific expense. The HOA will never be asked to contribute, and I'll keep simple records I'm happy to share.

Hickory Hill is getting a
Little Free Library!