Thief Clears Out Irving Park Little Free Library, Neighbors Restock Shelves

IRVING PARK — The feel-good Little Free Library movement — built on a "take a book, leave a book" honor system — was dealt a blow over the weekend when a thief (or thieves) completely cleared out an Irving Park box.

The library's host, Roberta Salas, reported the vandalism on Facebook Saturday: "Someone drove up and took all the books.... We only have leave a book today."

Neighbors responded not just with words of sympathy ("So sorry. Terrible.") and frustration ("People are pathetic.") but with deeds.

Donations flowed in, as residents dug into their personal stacks.

"I just dropped off several and saw someone approaching with many more as I walked away," one neighbor reported via Facebook.

"Keep the love of reading and community alive, despite those who may attempt to destroy it," urged another.

On Sunday, Salas followed up her original message with happier news, sharing a photo on Facebook of a full library on Central Park Avenue, near Irving Park Road.

"This is what makes our community and our little library so awesome," she wrote. "Thank you to all our friends and neighbors for helping us restock our library for all to enjoy."

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