The public library isn’t the only place where you can borrow a book.
There’s the Libby app, which allows you to download digital books and magazines to your Kindle or to your cellphone.
Or you could try one of the local miniature libraries.
Little Free Library promotes the use of small libraries, about the size of a large birdhouse, offering libraries to mount on your fence and charter registration for libraries. (For details, see littlefreelibrary.org.)
Some miniature libraries, however, such as the one outside Main Street Mercantile (in back of Brita’s Old Town Gardens), are slightly less formal and may be larger than the Little Library structure. The miniature library is supplied with books from the Mary Wilson Friends of the Library bookstore.
With most of these unofficial libraries, you are supposed to leave a book when you take a book.
In many cases, the operators restock their own miniature libraries.
There are, however, a few exceptions.
“Our Little Library serves a unique purpose. It was established as a memorial for a student who passed away, and the books were generously donated by the student’s mother in his honor,” wrote Wendy Wood, principal of McGaugh elementary School.
“Because of its memorial nature, it does not operate as a traditional ‘take a book, leave a book’ Little Library. Instead, it functions as an on-campus reading library where students can access and enjoy books during the school day. The collection is maintained through the original donation and serves as a lasting tribute to the ‘student while encouraging a love of reading among our students,” Wood wrote.
The Sun recently found four registered in Seal Beach at littlefreelibrary.org, as well as others in Rossmoor and Los Alamitos. However, some known Old Town area Little Libraries did not show up in that online search. A search based on Seal Beach’s zip code turned up four. A search based on Seal Beach, CA, turned up four. However, according to some book lovers there are at least 12 Little Libraries in town.
One Little Library on 11th Street (near Electric) offers hardcovers and paperbacks including Robin Cook’s “Contagion” and Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables” (English translation).
Remember: The available books at mini-libraries often change quickly.
Next to the entrance to Main Street Mercantile you’ll find many books, mostly paperbacks, and seats so you can relax while you read. Selections there include Mitch Albom’s “For One More Day” and Alyson Noel’s “Laguna Cove.”
At the Girl Scout House at 247 Seventh St., you might find “Devil in a Blue Dress” by Walter Mosley and “Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator” by Roald Dahl (it’s the sequel to “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”).
On Ocean Avenue, you’ll find a Little Library with its door held closed by a blue cord. The selection there includes “Perfect Stranger” and “Family Album” buy Danielle Steel and two paperback copies (with the covers missing) of “Devil’s Waltz” by Jonathan Kellerman.
In a social media post, Kristina Lennon Buckley wrote: “There’s one on 11th St. north of Electric at the alley entrance.”
Charlotte Salisbury wrote: “Love the Little Libraries. My friend hosts one off SB Blvd. below PCH, closer to the beach!”
Kate O’Donnell Wilson wrote that there was one on Stanford Lane in College Park West.
Katie Chesnut wrote: “I have one on Driftwood Ave.!”
George Beljajev wrote: “We have one on Crestview Ave. There’s a few on Catalina Ave.”
Jess Billings, Bee Natural wrote: “There is a really nice wooden dog one—take a stick, leave a stick with fun dog treats. It’s in the triangle next to the green belt where Seal Beach above turns into Ocean and Electric Ave. And another book one on Ocean in between Electric Ave. and 16th.”
In another social media post, Karen Narz-Ferretti wrote: “My husband almost exclusively gets the books he reads from the Little Free Library at 6th and Ocean. Occasionally he finds one at the box in front of the Girl Scout House. There is also one at 7th and Central, and 11th near Electric, on the alley.”
Joy Nasser wrote: “We have 2 that I’m aware of in Leisure World.”
Charlotte Salisbury wrote: “Love the little libraries. My friend hosts one of SB Blvd below PCH, closer to the beach!”
Tina Olson Heeren wrote there was a mini-library on Martha Ann in Rossmoor.