Little Free Library expands partnerships, now offering book-to-screen adaptations

Little Free Library partnering with studios and publishers to distribute books behind popular film and TV adaptations

Little Free Library is expanding its partnerships with film studios, publishers and authors as the popularity of book-to-screen adaptations continues to grow, using high-profile releases to connect more readers with the original novels.

The non-profit organisation, which operates free community book-sharing boxes, says the collaborations are helping it fulfil its mission of increasing access to books while encouraging audiences inspired by films and television series to discover the stories behind them.

"These books coming to the screen offer this fantastic way to increase attention to reading, because people who don't normally read might be inspired to pick up the book after seeing the movie," Margret Aldrich, Little Free Library's senior director of communications, told PEOPLE.

Founded in 2009 in Hudson, Wisconsin, Little Free Library has expanded to more than 200,000 book-sharing boxes across all 50 US states and in 128 countries. The organisation was created to improve access to books amid ongoing literacy challenges.

Recent collaborations have focused on several high-profile adaptations. To coincide with Peacock's release of The Five-Star Weekend, the Nantucket Film Festival distributed copies of Elin Hilderbrand's novel through Little Free Libraries across Nantucket.

Earlier this year, the organisation also partnered with Sony to place copies of Kazuo Ishiguro's Klara and the Sun in community book boxes following the release of the film's first trailer.

Little Free Library has also organised nationwide book giveaways linked to upcoming adaptations. Ahead of Netflix's The Thursday Murder Club, the organisation worked with the novel's publisher to distribute 200 copies of Richard Osman's bestselling mystery through participating library stewards.

Similar campaigns have supported The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware and People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry.

"The growing book-to-screen trend is a powerful way to introduce new audiences to the original stories," Little Free Library chief executive Daniel Gumnit said in a statement.

"Through book drops, social media collaborations and custom Little Free Libraries created with our media partners, we help celebrate their projects while inspiring readers to discover the books that started it all."