19 badass Little Free Libraries spotted by our readers

Nothing good comes easy. And even if that good thing is easy, it probably requires a permit. Like, for instance, Little Free Libraries.

Last week, we wrote about how book-lending cottages have spurred some controversy. In some U.S. cities, community members have asked city governments to crack down on these obviously dangerous public torments — requesting their removal, or that owners first obtain permits so that no city codes are violated.

The occasional legitimate safety concern aside, we’re fans of the little guys. So we asked readers to tweet or Instagram pictures of their local book-lending boxes with the hashtag #MyLittleFreeLibrary in solidarity.

Here they are, Little Free Libraries across the globe — from Indiana to Indonesia — in all their menacing, educational beauty.

@grist 2/2 And this is our "away" version in the Alberta Foothills. #MyLittleFreeLibrary pic.twitter.com/eqAPDVgtmn

— Cheri Macaulay (@cheriyyc) February 20, 2015

@grist 1/2 Lucky us, we have two little free libraries. This is our "home" version in Calgary. #MyLittleFreeLibrary pic.twitter.com/WIU15FuKtG

— Cheri Macaulay (@cheriyyc) February 20, 2015

Not as whimsical as others I've seen, but this LFL in Providence is always chock full of books😀 #mylittlefreelibrary pic.twitter.com/H0PcuqEGBp

— Little Free Library (@ProvidenceLFL) February 21, 2015

@grist 2 of at least 10 #MyLittleFreeLibrary I've seen while walking around Longmont, CO pic.twitter.com/c33dnxbkpz

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— Michael Weiss (@fillingmybrain) February 21, 2015

#MyLittleFreeLibrary and our LFLibrary Cat, Thomas O'Malley in #yyc pic.twitter.com/DPpRVyQPL6

— LeeTa (@micropainter) February 21, 2015

This is Indonesia. #MyLittleFreeLibrary pic.twitter.com/HZoMzxwRtW

— masakhwan (@masakhwan) February 22, 2015

@grist Saw this one outside High Street Sweets in that hotbed of LFLs, Mineral Point WI. #MyLittleFreeLibrary pic.twitter.com/XdpLpJKven

— wjohn (@wjohn_food) February 22, 2015

#MyLittleFreeLibrary with reading bench, library cat, hanging plants, sidewalk chalk in Calgary, Alberta, Canada #yyc pic.twitter.com/M2fMyA0ztZ

— LeeTa (@micropainter) February 21, 2015

#mylittlefreelibrary in Hamilton Park in #FortWayne #Indiana pic.twitter.com/0v23Z28AZv

— Mike Roeger (@carfreerunner) February 20, 2015

@grist #Myfreelittlelibrary pic.twitter.com/ADytPHP3Ll

— Laurel Werbeski (@Werbeski) February 22, 2015

Libraries made out of old bicycle parts, painted with Hufflepuff house colors, crafted with stained glass doors, and painted with flying books? Knowledge may be dangerous — but it sure can be cute.