West LA homeowner cited by city after neighbor complains about Little Free Library

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A West Los Angeles homeowner was served a notice of violation because her Little Free Library is technically on public property.

Her little library bookcases are made out of old wine crates fastened to a wooden post. Neighbors stop by the corner of Tennessee and Manning avenues to pick up free books and drop off others.

"Every time I come by I smile because I think it helps bring the community together," neighbor David Anderson said.

Longtime resident Lili Flanders and her husband Peter put up the homemade stand a couple of months ago.

"The two of us put in about half a dozen books that we had read, but didn't want to keep, and put them out there. To our surprise and delight within a few days the library was filled," Flanders said.

A complaint was filed with the city and about a little more than one week ago an inspector came by stating the little library had to come down.

A nasty anonymous note was also left inside the little library.

"So we then saw it and realized that there was someone who apparently was very angry about our library, about it being illegal. Someone who apparently also hated us and our kids," Flanders said.

Little Free Libraries are becoming popular, and resident Nikita Putnam put up a rainbow colored library outside the front of her house. She said her 4-year-old daughter came up with the idea.

Her daughter was watching the Disney Channel and suddenly had the urge to give away books, Putnam said.

Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz said he is working on a plan to make the little libraries legal.

"I think we want to find a way to make this work. A great little grassroots idea like this, it's very community oriented, I think it just brings people together," he said.