Hubbry Logo
Todd BolTodd BolMain
Open search
Todd Bol
Community hub
Todd Bol
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Todd Bol
Todd Bol
Todd Bol
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Todd Herbert Bol (January 2, 1956 – October 18, 2018) was the creator and founder of Little Free Library, a global public bookcase nonprofit organization.[2] In 2009, he used wood from his old garage door to make the first library-on-a-stick as a tribute to his mother, June Bol,[3] while living in Hudson, Wisconsin.[4] As of 2016, the project had expanded to include Little Free Libraries in 85 countries. According to a 2018 article, there are now more than 75,000 Little Free Libraries in 88 countries.[3]

Key Information

Bol worked as a public school teacher for five years in Circle Pines and Cambridge, Minnesota.[1] Later, he founded an international trade company called Global Scholarship Alliance, which provides nursing scholarships for advanced nursing. He also founded Care Forth, Inc., an entrepreneurial consulting firm.[1]

Bol died from pancreatic cancer in 2018 at the age of 62.[5][6] Just before he passed away, Todd Bol said his hope is for the rest of us to keep his efforts going - a kid with dyslexia who grew up with a dream of bringing books to every block and every person in this world.[7]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Todd Bol

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Todd Bol is an American educator and entrepreneur known for founding the Little Free Library movement, which has installed tens of thousands of small public book-sharing boxes around the world to promote literacy and community connection. In 2009, Bol built the first Little Free Library in his front yard in Hudson, Wisconsin, as a tribute to his mother, a schoolteacher and lifelong reader. The small schoolhouse-shaped structure, made from recycled wood and filled with books, operated on the honor system: take a book, leave a book. This personal gesture quickly inspired neighbors and friends, leading Bol to construct and distribute more boxes. With Rick Brooks, Bol formalized the idea into the Little Free Library nonprofit organization, which registered as a 501(c)(3) by 2012 and rapidly expanded under his leadership as executive director. By 2018, more than 75,000 registered Little Free Libraries existed across all 50 U.S. states and 88 countries, far surpassing early goals inspired by Andrew Carnegie's library initiatives. Bol viewed these miniature libraries as essential "connective tissue" for communities, fostering free access to books and encouraging reading everywhere. He remained dedicated to the movement until his death on October 18, 2018, from complications of pancreatic cancer at age 62. In his final days, Bol expressed hope for "a Little Free Library on every block and a book in every hand," emphasizing the power of shared reading to strengthen neighborhoods and humanity. His vision continues to inspire global book-sharing stewards.

Early life

Family and background

Todd Bol was born on January 2, 1956, in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was the third of five children born to Richard Bol, a chiropractor, and June (Pattridge) Bol, a schoolteacher. Bol was raised partly in the Stillwater, Minnesota area. His mother's work as a schoolteacher later inspired the first Little Free Library.

Founding Little Free Library

Inspiration and first installation

In 2009, Todd Bol built the first Little Free Library in Hudson, Wisconsin, as a tribute to his late mother, June Bol, a schoolteacher who loved reading. He constructed the small, schoolhouse-shaped wooden box using salvaged wood from his old garage door and mounted it on a post in his front yard. Bol filled the library with books from his mother's collection to create a neighborhood book exchange. The library operated on an honor system, allowing anyone to take a book and leave another in return. Bol later described the project as "a spiritual gesture" to honor his mother's memory and encourage community sharing of books. The positive response from neighbors prompted him to build additional libraries.

Partnership and early spread

In 2010, Todd Bol began partnering with Rick Brooks, an outreach program manager at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, after Brooks encountered Bol's book-sharing project during discussions about potential social enterprises. Together they formalized the initiative and adopted the official name "Little Free Library" by 2010, with the core purpose of sharing good books and building community connections. Drawing inspiration from Andrew Carnegie's funding of 2,509 free public libraries across the English-speaking world, Bol and Brooks established an ambitious goal to surpass that number by building 2,510 Little Free Libraries by the end of 2013. They exceeded this goal in August 2012, one and a half years ahead of schedule. During this early phase, Todd Bol personally built many of the Little Free Libraries and distributed them by giving them away to neighbors, friends, and interested individuals, with each box assigned an official charter number engraved on a wooden sign. The movement's initial spread occurred primarily across the Midwest—starting in Wisconsin—through Bol's direct personal efforts in constructing and gifting the boxes, combined with word-of-mouth promotion from early adopters and stewards who enthusiastically advocated for the concept within their local networks. This grassroots approach built on the foundation of Bol's original 2009 tribute installation in Hudson, Wisconsin.

Growth of the movement

Milestones and expansion

The Little Free Library movement experienced rapid expansion in the years following its early development through Todd Bol's partnership with Rick Brooks. Inspired by Andrew Carnegie's funding of 2,509 public libraries around the turn of the 20th century, the organization set an initial target to surpass that number of Little Free Libraries by the end of 2013. This milestone was achieved far sooner than anticipated, with the number of Little Free Libraries exceeding 2,509 in August 2012—one and a half years ahead of the planned schedule. Growth continued at a brisk pace, reaching over 4,000 Little Free Libraries by the end of 2012. The movement emphasized community engagement and literacy promotion through its core "take a book, leave a book" model, encouraging free book exchanges in neighborhoods worldwide. Expansion accelerated in subsequent years, with the organization celebrating the installation of its 75,000th registered Little Free Library in August 2018. By the time of Todd Bol's death in October 2018, there were more than 75,000 registered Little Free Libraries operating in 88 countries.

Nonprofit formation and global reach

In 2012, Little Free Library became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, providing a formal structure to support the growing movement initiated by Todd Bol. This transition, occurring the same year the number of registered Little Free Libraries exceeded 4,000, enabled expanded coordination of efforts in literacy promotion and community engagement. The initiative positioned itself as a movement that blended folk art—through Bol's original hand-built, schoolhouse-inspired wooden boxes—with literacy promotion and community connection, fostering volunteer-led book exchanges that encouraged sharing and neighborhood interactions. Its mission emphasized serving as a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access through freely accessible, open-air book-sharing boxes. Under Bol's involvement, the movement achieved significant global reach; by 2018, Little Free Libraries were present in all 50 U.S. states and 88 countries, reflecting its transition into a worldwide network. Bol articulated his expansive vision for the project, stating, “I really believe in a Little Free Library on every block and a book in every hand. I believe people can fix their neighborhoods, fix their communities, develop systems of sharing, learn from each other, and see that they have a better place on this planet to live.”

Recognition and media appearances

Awards

In 2013, Todd Bol and Rick Brooks were jointly honored with the Movers & Shakers award in the Innovators category by Library Journal, recognizing their pioneering work in creating the Little Free Library movement to promote literacy and community book sharing. The award profiled them as cofounders who had sparked a global network of free book exchanges, with Bol serving as cofounder and executive director of Little Free Library Ltd. This recognition highlighted their innovative leadership in expanding access to reading materials beyond traditional library systems. No other personal awards to Todd Bol during his lifetime are documented in primary sources from the organization or awarding bodies.

Public appearances and documentaries

Todd Bol appeared as himself in the 2012 short documentary A Small Wooden Box, directed by Gwen Briesemeister. The 13-minute video features Bol and co-founder Rick Brooks discussing the origins of the Little Free Library movement, centering on the simple concept of placing wooden boxes filled with books in public spaces for free sharing under the motto "Give a book, take a book, return a book." This film documented the early development of the initiative that began with Bol's first handmade library. In 2013, Bol delivered a public presentation at TEDxFargo titled "The Start of the Little Free Library." The talk, given on August 9, 2013, at the Fargo Theatre, recounted how he constructed a model one-room schoolhouse stocked with books in 2009 as a memorial to his mother, an act that unexpectedly inspired a global network of neighborhood book exchanges. The presentation was uploaded to the TEDx Talks YouTube channel on September 19, 2013. These media engagements showcased Bol's personal role in launching the project and contributed to raising public awareness of its community-building potential.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Todd Bol was married to Susan, his loving wife and best friend. They were together for 35 years, during which Susan served as his partner in social entrepreneurism, traveling with him to promote the Little Free Library movement. Bol and his family resided in Hudson, Wisconsin. He was the father of two children, a daughter named Allison and a son named Austin. The family shared a close bond, with his son Austin remembering him as "the best, most generous, goofy, and kind person" who taught kindness to others.

Death

Illness and passing

Todd Bol was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer shortly before his death. He died on October 18, 2018, at the age of 62 from complications of pancreatic cancer. He passed away in hospice care in Oakdale, Minnesota. The news of his death was reported by family members, including his brother Tony Bol.

Legacy

Impact and ongoing influence

Todd Bol's establishment of the Little Free Library in 2009 initiated a worldwide movement centered on enhancing literacy, strengthening community ties, and facilitating the free exchange of books among neighbors. His core vision held that small, individual acts of kindness—such as placing a book-filled box in a front yard—held the potential to create meaningful change, empowering everyday people to contribute to broader social good through accessible, grassroots efforts. This emphasis on personal initiative and community-oriented kindness continues to define the organization's ethos, with Little Free Library stewards worldwide carrying forward Bol's belief in the power of individuals to foster positive transformation through book sharing. The nonprofit has instituted the Todd H. Bol Awards for Outstanding Achievement to honor those who exemplify this spirit by uplifting neighborhoods and promoting lifelong reading habits. At the time of Bol's passing in 2018, shortly after the organization marked its 75,000th library, the movement had already demonstrated significant reach. The initiative has since experienced sustained expansion, now encompassing more than 200,000 registered Little Free Libraries across 128 countries on all seven continents, perpetuating his influence on increasing access to books and nurturing community connections globally.

References

  1. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/23/obituaries/todd-bol-dead.html
  2. https://littlefreelibrary.org/about/history/
  3. https://littlefreelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Todd-H.-Bol-Notice.pdf
  4. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/10/22/todd-bol-whose-little/
  5. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194130839/todd_herbert-bol
  6. https://www.npr.org/2018/10/19/658962057/little-free-library-creator-todd-bol-dies
  7. https://www.startribune.com/todd-bol-creator-of-the-little-free-library-movement-dies-at-62/497938831
  8. https://www.legacy.com/news/todd-bol-2018-founder-of-the-non-profit-little-free-library-2
  9. https://earth911.com/living-well-being/little-free-libraries/
  10. https://littlefreelibrary.org/2018/08/little-free-library-celebrates-milestone-75000th-library/
  11. https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/todd-bol-rick-brooks-movers-shakers-2013-innovators
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2428182/
  13. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5301166/
  14. https://tedxfargo.com/tedxfargo-2013/
  15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5TJH5hmRE8
  16. https://obituaries.startribune.com/obituary/todd-bol-1090203039
  17. https://sharewithothers.net/our-story/
  18. https://www.twincities.com/2018/10/18/little-free-library-founder-dies-at-62-tie-silver-or-white-ribbons-around-the-libraries-in-his-memory/
  19. https://littlefreelibrary.org/todd-bol-1966-2018/
  20. https://www.startribune.com/todd-bol-co-founder-of-little-free-library-movement-dies-at-62/499546401/
  21. https://littlefreelibrary.org/stewards/todd-bol-awards/
  22. https://littlefreelibrary.org/2025/05/little-free-library-announces-2025-todd-h-bol-awards-for-outstanding-achievement/
  23. https://littlefreelibrary.org/faq/how-many-little-free-libraries-are-there/
  24. https://littlefreelibrary.org/about/news-media/media-kit/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.