READER REPORT: Another West Seattle Little Free Library mysteriously emptied

| Gatewood | West Seattle books | West Seattle news

Another mysterious disappearance of books from a West Seattle Little Free Library, days after this report. The newest report is from Steve in Gatewood:

As other readers have noted, our Little Free Library was totally emptied of over 50 books last night. All books in good shape from James Patterson to children’s readers.

The Little Free Library two doors down seems to have been untouched.

To put this in perspective, more than 3,000 books that people have loved have been dropped off and then picked up by other people with very little friction so I still call the operation a wild success.

I can’t imagine what the impulse was for this event but hope it doesn’t become a trend.

Paul June 1, 2025 (6:59 pm)

This is so disappointing to see. These little gems are so amazing to have in our communities.

Oerthehillz June 1, 2025 (7:42 pm)

It’s for resale purposes. Some people look for any opportunity to find things to resell.

AJ June 2, 2025 (9:57 am)

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Exactly….free books they van sell on Ebay. Very sad, but many people ate in hard times.

Sillygoose June 1, 2025 (8:00 pm)

Possibly selling them? Sorry it was emptied

Pegasus Eric June 1, 2025 (8:08 pm)

Come by the shop sometime and we’ll hook y’all up with some free books to restock

Slothmom June 2, 2025 (4:18 am)

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You’re a gem, pegasus eric.
John June 2, 2025 (6:05 am)

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Steve June 2, 2025 (7:15 am)

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Thanks so much, Eric. Pegasus is such a community pillar.
Seanjohn Walsh June 2, 2025 (10:40 am)

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G📚📚d on ya, neighbor!
Yay June 2, 2025 (10:45 am)

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Pegasus, you’re golden!

Green Lake Bob June 1, 2025 (8:43 pm)

Profiteers sell books from these little libraries. You should tear the title page off of them to prevent this and have a sign saying title pages removed to deter these goons

WSmom June 1, 2025 (10:59 pm)

If not to sell, I have also heard of religious zealots emptying free libraries of anything they deem objectionable.I have a bag of books that I have been saving to drop off at some FLL. I’ll try and swing by this week and replenish some of your stock.

Steve June 2, 2025 (7:19 am)

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Thanks so much. Responses like yours just confirm the strong positive feelings I have for this community regardless of the outliers.
LL June 2, 2025 (7:50 am)

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Similarly, I help stock a little free pantry and have had the same thing happen to it b/c of a person who is philosophically opposed to giving people food.

Winthrop June 1, 2025 (11:32 pm)

For what it’s worth, I am steward for 5 Little Free Libraries in Port Jervis NY. One of them, located outside an art gallery, was hit 5 times, with all the books being taken. This is the only one which I don’t have to fill with a few books weekly, books fill it thanks to the community. The other libraries, also outside businesses, weren’t hit. Unfortunately there’s no camera at the gallery.

Charlie June 2, 2025 (6:32 am)

I have witnessed an individual emptying a LFL into his backpack (several months ago, at Hudson & Erskine). He left on foot. One assumes he was taking the books for their resale value, perhaps out of financial desperation. (I present as physically vulnerable so did not feel safe confronting him.)Perhaps books place in LFLs could be marked as such in a standard place, so used bookstores could see their source and decline to purchase them.

KT June 2, 2025 (8:30 am)

Well…the library is free…so does it matter what people do with them when they take them?

BlairJ June 2, 2025 (9:10 am)

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They should put some books they are done reading into the FLL to replace the ones they took. That’s the idea to keep the cycle going.
AreYouSerious? June 2, 2025 (10:15 am)

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Yes.

Greg Toencycki June 2, 2025 (8:41 am)

Why is this a newstory if they haven’t filed a police report?

Huh? June 2, 2025 (10:12 am)

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I might be mis-reading, but are you suggesting this shouldn’t be posted unless it was reported to police?
- WSB June 2, 2025 (11:17 am)
  
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  Just to clarify as I didn’t have time earlier to answer: This is not published as a Crime Watch story so whether it was reported to police or not is irrelevant anyway.

Littlefreelibrarian June 2, 2025 (8:44 am)

I also have a little free library in West Seattle that I’ve managed for about a decade. It has been cleaned out a handful times, often in quick succession. I always assumed it was someone selling the books. You can buy a stamp through the LFL website that marks it as “not for resale”. I put about 10 stamps on each book over multiple pages and inside covers. That seems to stop it. I don’t bother to stamp all books, but I do it periodically and every time after it gets cleaned out. Don’t get discouraged.

WS Res June 2, 2025 (5:15 pm)

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I wonder when someone “cleans out” a LFL but doesn’t dump the books, if it’s someone filling their own LFL.A friend of mine runs several “mega-LFLs” that she built into unused newspaper racks at Denver Light Rail stations. She’s had the occasional clean-out. Friends of the Library sales are a great place to pick up books in bulk, in addition to Pegasus’ Bookstore’s generous offer.

Littlefreelibrarian June 2, 2025 (8:59 am)

Here’s a link to the stamp: https://littlefreelibrary.myshopify.com/collections/for-stewards/products/standard-artisan-stamp

Steve June 5, 2025 (9:51 am)

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This was a terrific tip.Just ordered a stamp.Thanks for sharing.

Johnny Bookleseed June 2, 2025 (9:36 am)

I mean, they’re free, so let ’em be free. We’re always looking for ways to pass along books we no longer need, I’m sure your neighbors will have it refilled in no time.

Booklover June 2, 2025 (10:18 am)

Thank You Pegasus Books. You are wonderful.

Benjamen Hebert June 2, 2025 (11:26 am)

I live in the Northgate neighborhood and there are several boxes nearby. One night my girlfriend and I were walking the dog and noticed that every box was empty, even though the night previous were full. Something is definitely amiss.

George June 2, 2025 (12:26 pm)

Three thousand books! What an awesome public service. Thank you for everything you’ve done to keep West Seattle well read.

Steve June 3, 2025 (2:23 pm)

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Thanks, George. I take my inspiration from my community-spirited Corgi.

Jamie June 2, 2025 (12:56 pm)

This just happens sometimes when you have an LFL, along with occasional vandalism. It’s really kind and supportive of Pegasus to offer free books, and you can also try leaving a note explaining what happened and asking for donations—I’m guessing your neighbors who frequent your LFL will step up. Good luck and try not to get discouraged. The people I see everyday stopping by mine keep me going.