In the winter of 2013, PEN, alongside the Architectural League of New York and IDEAS CITY Festival, commissioned ten emerging architects to design their take on the idea of the Little Free Library. On May 4, the ten little libraries will be built and “planted” in neighborhoods across downtown New York City. Each will be an outdoor public library in miniature, tailored to serve the community they represent, holding about twenty books, lending on the honor-system, and inspiring curiosity, learning, and good will.

Artist Marcelo Ertoteguy’s yellow library pod  (pictured above) will be installed outside of NYC’s landmark St. Patrick’s Cathedral .

On May 4, between 1-5 pm, book lovers are invited to celebrate the opening of each Little Free Library/NYC by picking up a free map at The Architectural League of New York and Brent Birnbaum Bureau of Apology’s booth at the IDEAS CITY street festival, and begin a walking tour of the libraries.

You can support Little Free Library/NYC here.

The walking tour is free and self-guided.