The Short Life of the Harvard Little Free Library

A few weeks ago a new addition popped up at Harvard - a little free library.  It had beautiful woodwork, windows, and held a few books on its two shelves.  I was excited about the idea so I contributed two books myself.  But as I walked by the little library on my way to work each day, the books seemed to disappear.  At one point the only book inside was a copy of Sarah Palin's autobiography.

I was familiar with the little free library concept from this much smaller version on Cambridge Street:

I've walked past this little library on several occasions, months apart, and there are always books.  Who can say what the difference is?  Perhaps less traffic past this library means fewer people borrowing books, or maybe someone on the block carefully stocks it. 

Now Harvard's version is gone.  I don't know if they removed it because of the lack of books or because its base was making unsightly marks on the infamous grass or because it was always meant to be temporary. 

In any case it was a beautiful, if brief, addition while it lasted.  Elsewhere it seems to be a more enduring community concept.