Neighborliness Outlawed In Leawood, MO
I write about one of the wonderful Little Free Libraries near me in "Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck" -- a little hutch, just bigger than a mailbox, that people put up so people around them can exchange books for free.
Well, in Leawood, Missouri, a man was told that he could face a ticket from the city if he doesn't remove the LFL, because it's a structure detached from his house. (Birdhouses must be faring poorly there as well, notes a commenter below the story in the PVPost.) Jay Senter reports for the PVPost:
Brian Collins, who lives near the intersection of 89th Street and Ensley Lane, installed a Little Free Library his father-in-law had given his wife for her birthday around three weeks ago. Collins went out of town for a few days last week, and when he arrived home, he found a letter from the city's codes enforcement officer informing him that the Little Free Library was not permitted under city code because it was a "detached structure" and that he had until June 19 to come into compliance."Your take a book leave a book structure must be attached to the house," the letter read.
...That response irked Collins, who pointed out that the whole point of the Little Free Libraries was that they were right in their neighborhoods and easily accessible from the street.
There was also the nitwittery of suggesting that the LFL be attached to a big library -- an actual library.
This is kind of like locating a refrigerator inside another refrigerator.
Government officials so often seem to have this special kind of genius.
I think those are a cute idea, although I think they'd be prohibited in my neighborhood as well due to the community rules we have to follow.
BunnyGirl at June 22, 2014 12:43 AM
What's ironic about that is that they create and enhance community. We meet neighbors dropping off or taking books. I also read books I never would have otherwise -- at low risk because I'm not buying them -- and sometimes like or love them.
Amy Alkon at June 22, 2014 6:03 AM
I wonder what kind of ordinances they have regarding doghouses.
Cousin Dave at June 22, 2014 7:02 AM
I wonder what influence the Leawood, Missouri library had on this. Government entities don't like competition.
Conan the Grammarian at June 22, 2014 10:01 AM
Years ago my brother-in-law worked maintenance for an apartment complex that catered to orthodox Jews. All the buildings were connected by a wire. This was an apparent loophole that connected residences so they could visit one-another without being “out” after sunset on Friday. My BIL got a kick out of stranding residents by cutting the wire.
Anyhow, what do you suppose Leawood would do if Brian attached the LFL to his house with a clothesline type wire?
Goo at June 22, 2014 1:17 PM
It would be interesting to know the logical reason behind this ordinance. There may have been a need for it at one time.
For example, was there, at one time, a need to restrict the number of "detached structures" such as outhouses or such that were creating a problem in the town?
That's just a wild guess on my part.
Even if there was a logical reason behind this ordinance at one time; it certainly sounds like it isn't being applied properly in this case.
So, with that said - Amy, this post sounds like it could be a follow up to your recent post about laws should have expiration dates!
Charles at June 22, 2014 1:28 PM
Actually, this was Leawood, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. I live here, and saw the local news on it last week.
Jim Armstrong at June 22, 2014 4:51 PM
"This was an apparent loophole that connected residences so they could visit one-another without being “out” after sunset on Friday. "
I was reading some elevator controller literature the other day. This particular controller has a "Sabbeth mode" that turns itself on and off on a schedule. When the elevator is in Sabbeth mode, it goes up and down continuously, stopping at every floor, all day long. This way someone does not have to violate the Sabbeth by "operating" the elevator -- just step aboard, and eventually, the elevator will arrive and the floor you want. Huge waste of energy, though.
Cousin Dave at June 23, 2014 9:48 AM
"Your take a book leave a book structure must be attached to the house," the letter read.
I am picturing him nailing a 2x4 to the side of his house, one end sticking out, then another nailed to the end, then another, until he reaches the box.
kenmce at June 23, 2014 3:11 PM
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