Filipino man quits job, lives off savings, starts a library.

An informal, amateur, non-membership required library has sprung up in the Philippines, all created by Hernanado Guanlo.

No due dates. No stamps. Keep the book for a week. Keep it for a month. Keep it for life. Come by and grab a book and never show your face again--it doesn't matter. Guanlo just wants you to read.

According to the BBC, Guanlo started his casual library in memory of his parents--who inspired him to read--after they died. He started by leaving around 100 books outside his door.

Today, there are possibly 3,000 books available to browse, many left by visitors who bring books by the bagful. As one woman--carrying bags of books to Guanlo's library--told the BBC, "I haven't been to any public libraries except the national library in Manila...Considering the income here, I think parents have other priorities."

Meanwhile, in other library news--while it's difficult to say how many libraries have closed recently in America, studies show 15% of libraries nationwide, and 24% of urban libraries, have reduced the number of hours they're open.

So, to synopsize this whole story:

Filipinos create their own libraries.

Americans close theirs.



photo: nybooks.com, via Robert Dawson and San Francisco Public Libraries.