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Emeryville council directs staff to create streamlined Little Libraries program with application and no fee
Summary
After a study session on “Little Free Libraries,” Emeryville staff recommended a low‑burden city program for boxes placed in the public right of way; council members asked for a simple application and for staff to return with a resolution waiving the application fee.
Emeryville — The City Council directed staff to return with a resolution establishing a city program to permit Little Free Library boxes in the public right of way, with a simple application and no application fee.
Public Works management analyst Josie Ahrens led a study session that reviewed options for regulating small book‑exchange boxes in the public right of way. Ahrens said the city currently had no formal process for boxes in the right of way and noted Little Free Libraries is a nonprofit based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. "This program would not apply to libraries installed on private property," Ahrens said.
The staff recommendation (labeled Option 2 in the report) would create a council‑adopted city program implemented by resolution, not an amendment to the municipal code. Under the recommended approach,…
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