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project leader
Abbey S
location
Waialae Avenue
(Hawaiian Islands)
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We've Built Nine Little Free Diverse Libraries!

the project

Hawai‘i FEAST and Greener Reader are seeking donations as we expand the “Little Free Diverse Libraries & Murals” Project. This project involves building and installing twelve more little free libraries with public murals, in the hopes of contributing to the discourse on race and equity issues throghout Hawai'i.

First and foremost, we want to acknowledge that we were inspired by the work of Sarah Kamya, a New York City school counselor who is collecting  book donations that amplify and empower black voices, and distributing those books to Little Free Libraries throughout the US. 

Between July and December 2020 the project team raised over $2,600 and installed three Little Free Diverse Libraries at Ars Cafe, da Shop: Books & Curiosities and Mud Hen Water in Honlulu.

With a recent grant award of $5,000 from the League of Women Voters of Honolulu Education Fund, the project team is fundraising an additional $5,000 to match the grant award, and install a total of 12 Little Free Diverse Libraries throughout each Honolulu City Council District, and other Hawaiian Islands.

Our organizations consider books and art to be effective catalysts of reflection, critical thinking, empathy, and conversation on these topics within communities, or even small groups of friends, and we would like to do our part in facilitating their circulation and implementation in Hawai'i.

the steps

To implement this project, our team will:

  • Identify twelve additional sites across Hawai'i willing to host the little free libraries. Our goal this round is to partner with retail spaces or organizations in each Honolulu City Council districts, and on neighbor islands. 
  • Secure project funding to match our our recent grant award by reaching out to organizations and businesses that are willing to sponsor or donate to this project. 
  • Work with local craftsmen to design, construct, and install the little free libraries in select locations. 
  • Purchase books by black, brown and indigenious authors and from local, independent bookstores. Initial book selections are being curated here based on titles available at Nā Mea Hawaiʻi, the Black Lives Matter list available through Da Shop Honolulu, Bishop Museum Press, and titles recommended by activists we follow such as Sarah Kamya (check out @littfreediverselibraries and her book list here) and Rachel Cargle (@rachel.cargle and Elizabeth's Bookshop & Writing Centre), and suggestions and donations from the community. Over the long term, we can all swap books on these topics with each other that we would like to share. 
  • Select artists who will be responsible for painting the libraries with murals that embody the themes of race and equity, and pay them for their vision, time, and skill. 

why we're doing it

Build Public Discourse on Race & Equity 

Communities across the United States are grappling with how to address systemic racism and equity disparities. As activist Angela Davis once said, “In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be antiracist.” Engaging in literature and artwork that showcase the experiences of people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds can be a useful tool in better understanding different perspectives and dismantling the biases people have towards one another. At the core of this project, Hawaiʻi FEAST and Greener Reader seek to contribute to the discussion on race and equity by sharing the work of BIPOC authors through 'little free libraries' and public murals.

Moreover, public spaces—parks, streets, and courtyards—have always been powerful arenas for democratic action, protests, and public discourse on these important topics. We hope the little free libraries and murals created for this project will not only improve the sense of place within the communities they are implemented, but will also serve as a visual memorialization to the ways in which these communities are grappling with issues of race and equity. 

Improve the Built Environment 

Artists have an important role in improving the physical and social fabric that holds communities together. It has been well documented in urban planning studies that public artwork, and public murals in particular, improve a neighborhood’s economic wellbeing and provide residents with a greater sense of place.

Enhance Artist Resources 

Despite the vital need for art, the creative community in Hawai‘i often lacks the fiscal resources to implement projects on a scale that is visible to the public. This project will provide Hawaiʻi FEAST and Greener Reader the opportunity to work with artists to strengthen their story-telling capacity and provide them with the financial resources to implement public art that benefits the people of Hawaiʻi. 

budget

Final budget

6/2/2023

#3 Da Shop

Artist Stipend (Kate Wadsworth)

$400.00

#4 Makiki Community Garden

Library Materials 

$135.00

Carpenter Labor

$260.00

Artist Stipend (Devin Oishi)

$400.00

#5 Surfrider Ocean Friendly Garden

Library Materials 

$135.00

Carpenter Labor

$260.00

Artist Stipend (Kaelyn Okuhata)

$400.00

#6 Victoria Ward Park

Library Materials 

$135.00

Carpenter Labor

$260.00

Artist Stipend (Jana Lam)

$400.00

#7 Bishop Museum Mauka

Library Materials 

$135.00

Carpenter Labor

$260.00

Artist Stipend (Haran Nani)

$400.00

#8 Bishop Museum Makai

Library Materials 

$135.00

Carpenter Labor

$260.00

Artist Stipend (Wooden Wave)

$400.00

#9 Bobby Benson Center

Library Materials 

$135.00

Carpenter Labor

$260.00

Artist Stipend (Dannah Mari Hidalgo)

$400.00

General Materials / Supplies

Books (Bishop Museum Press + DaShop Books)

$500.55

Registering Libraries (3)

$123.06

Registering Libraries (6)

$263.67

=$6,057.28



TOTAL RAISED = $6,584.00
ioby Fiscal Sponsorship Fee (5%) $329.20
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $197.52
TOTAL TO DISBURSE= $6,057.28

Original Budget

Secured funding from League of Women Voters of Honolulu Education Fund: $5,000 

  • Artist Stipends - $2,400 ($400 x 6 libraries)
  • Design, Materials & Installation of Little Free Libraries - $1,800 ($300 x 6 libraries)
  • Books to seed the Little Free Diverse Libraries  -  $720 ($120 x 6 libraries)
  • Printing flyers, stickers, misc. - $80

Fundraising goal to match grant award: $5,000

  • Artist Stipends - $2,400 ($400 x 6 libraries)
  • Design, Materials & Installation of Little Free Libraries - $1,800 ($300 x 6 libraries)
  • Books to seed the Little Free Diverse Libraries  -  $720 ($120 x 6 libraries)
  • Printing flyers, stickers, misc. - $80

Updated budget 4.20.2021

 



TOTAL PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED $10,000
ioby Fiscal Sponsorship Fee (5%) $543
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%)
(Donation processing fee does not apply to match funding.)		 $326
TOTAL TO RAISE= $10,870

 

 

Original goal: 



PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED = $5,000
ioby Platform Fee $35
ioby Fiscal Sponsorship Fee (5%) $274
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%)
(Donation processing fee does not apply to match funding.)		 $164
TOTAL TO RAISE = $5,473

Please note: ioby fees are estimated and will be calculated based on totals at the end of the campaign.

updates

We've Built Nine Little Free Diverse Libraries!

Posted 09/28/2021 - 10:53pm

We've come a long way since we first started crowdfunding for this project in June 2020! We currently have built and installed nine Little Free Diverse Libraries, and have at least three more underway for 2021. 

We want to let you know where you can find Little Free Diverse Libraries that have been funded by this effort, highlight our site hosts, artists, as well as acknowledge all donors and sponsors to date.

Installed Libraries To-Date

Upcoming Libraries

Sponsors and Donors to Date (Updated September 2021)

  • Kōkua Sponsors ($500): In memory of Cynthia Ann, Oahu Fresh, Thrive Global

  • Mahalo Sponsors ($100): @mahalorewardscard, Angel P., Arika E., Ayana McNair, PhD, Bookship, Hawaii Appleseed, Kelvin T., Leanna M., Lucy T., Scott C., Teri and Matthew E., Will R.

  • Aloha Sponsors ($25 - $99): Alana R., Alexandrine C., Ben T., Chris H., Christina P., Daniela S., David V., Dr. Mikey, Jess P., June C., Justine E., Katherine Gra, Layne C., M2, Maeson A., Matt M., Michael W., Pierre A., Ryan T., Sean A., Susannah K., Seth C., Tamara E., Tyler M., Vicki B., Vivian P.

  • And five additional donors! ($1-$24)

photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • Pierre Asselin
  • Anonymous
  • Angel P.
  • Lucy T.
  • Thrive Global of Hawaii
  • Vicki Bassing
  • Kelvin Tjia
  • Anonymous
  • O`ahu Fresh