Little Free Library continues to get vandalized

Medford, Ore.– A little free library in a quiet east Medford neighborhood has been repeatedly victimized by thieves, but the owner says that wont stop her from spreading her love for reading.

“Books have come into my life that have been really helpful at times,” says Linda Osborne,  “and I appreciate that.”

For Linda books are more than just pages and chapters.

“I started reading as a child.  My mother is a reader, I don’t know maybe its genetic.”

Her love for literature is seen on almost every shelf in her east Medford home.  That’s why when Linda read an article about Little Free Libraries across the country, she knew she wanted her own.

“I said, ‘I want to do that!'”

Her little free library was a gift to her from her husband.  Eager to share her love for books with her neighborhood, she keeps it stocked with pieces from her own collection even when thieves wipe it clean.

“When this happens part of my process is to be kind of angry about it,” Linda says.

Since last fall, Linda says her library has been robbed five times.

“Someone has taken every single book in the library at night,” she explains.

The concept is take a book return a book.  While she says she never puts something in the kiosk that she doesn’t expect to lose, she’s disappointed that her books are being vandalized.

“One time I found some books in the gutter at the end of the road.  So I know they are not being used they are just being disposed of,” she says.  “So I just hope whoever keeps doing it will get bored and go away.”

For Linda her little free library is her way of sharing what she loves so much with her community.

“I am just not going to let who’s doing this, get me.”

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