What makes a little library accepted or rejected when they are all by the sidewalk of private properties

[flemishrabbit]

Why is there tons of little libraries being accepted which are located by the sidewalk of private properties yet the special library i nominated in the same location as others right on the inside of the sidewalk was rejected, aappealed and rejected for being on private property which it is not.

[cyndiepooh]

Welcome to the forum @flemishrabbit

Here is the clarification on little free libraries:

Little Free Libraries

Little Free Libraries (LFL) can be eligible for nomination, but their location is critical to whether they can be accepted. Little Free Libraries with safe access on sidewalks outside of apartment buildings or on municipal or communal property are eligible. Those on single-family private residential properties (SFPRP) are ineligible. [image] :+1:The LFL above is a good example of an eligible Waypoint. It is on public property and is well-maintained. It faces the sidewalk, does not block acces…

and here is the one on SFPRP (single family private residential property):

Private Residences, Farmland & K-12

Single-family private residential properties (SFPRP), farms, and K-12 (schools or facilities primarily focused for persons under 18 years of age) are ineligible. This includes the outer facing facade, fence of these locations, and property boundaries. Objects in or upon apartment blocks, gated communities, or their shared spaces may be eligible assuming they otherwise meet criteria and are intended to be accessed by a community, even if not everyone. Communal spaces have the potential to be eli…

Reviewers and submitters are both very confused on when these are acceptable. They are often accepted in error and often removed later.

The main issue is that the same laws don’t apply everywhere. So unless you prove to reviewers beyond the shadow of a doubt that the little free library is on public property, then reviewers are supposed to be cautious and reject something that appears to be in someone’s yard (on SFPRP specifically).

[nexushoratio]

Just because something exists as a wayspot, that does not mean it should exist as a wayspot. Mistakes happen.

I’m systematically going through all of the LFL in my “area” and reporting those appearing to be on private property. On average, about half of the ones I look at are invalid (mostly for private property, but I’ve also found some that on school property and some that used to exist, but no longer do).

Much to the annoyance of players on my own Ingress team, I’ve had a large number of them removed.

[DTrain2002]

Hello and welcome,

I do want to point out this from the Private Residences criteria clarification:

@NianticTintino

**Easements, “right-of-ways,” and sidewalks are too broad to make a global statement on, but the guidance is the same as above - if it is part of a private residence, it is ineligible.

So, even if something appears to be a part of PRP, and right on the inside of a sidewalk seems like being on PRP to me (without seeing the nomination, of course), it’s ineligible.

Now, some reviewers do accept any LFL that is nominated without checking where they are. If you are finding LFL on PRP, you can request removal of these Wayspots in-game. I’ve actually has some LFLs on PRP removed, and you can find more info about how to report a Wayspot for removal here:

Reporting a Wayspot — Wayfarer Help Center

[AceTrainerEPH]

Personally, I’d trust the local communities on whether an area is safe or not for pedestrians. I live in an area where there are no sidewalks, literally none. It’s all cul-de-sacs and neighborhoods w/ HOAs where the city doesn’t even bother to put them in. As a result, when you are in a small neighborhood away from the main road, you walk on the shoulder in the street, because there is no other option.

If having a sidewalk is the only criteria guaranteeing safety for pedestrians, then people need to start researching how communities without them function, because people seem to manage just fine.

Also, if the above were enforced consistently, then some communities with hundreds of people wouldn’t have a single wayspot for miles. We can’t screw over people in suburbs or rural areas just because they happen to live there.

Have some flexibility, I beg.

[cyndiepooh]

@AceTrainerEPH

whether an area is safe or not for pedestrians

The issue is legality. SFPRP is not eligible.