Homed in upcycled newspaper boxes, the first two West Coast Little Free Libraries are part of several wonderful local movements, as well as the international Little Free Library.org.
Perched in neighbourhoods, the Little Free Libraries are tiny free lending sources. They have them all over the world, but the West Coast Little Free Library branches opened in Tofino outside Common Loaf Bakery and Ucluelet outside the Westerly News this week are the first ones north of Nanaimo.
It's our hope that they will provide a casual, simple way for people around the West Coast to get into literature and to share the bounty and diversity of their bookshelves
with others. Feel free to bring a good book or two to donate and browse for one to borrow.
Way for people around the West Coast to get into literature and to share the bounty and diversity of their bookshelves with others.
Feel free to bring a good book or two to donate and browse for one to borrow. Discover a new author or genre! Bring your kids and teach them to share their well-read books with others! No membership required, all books donated; a network of Little Free Libraries is being formed around the West Coast and we're hoping good books will flow between the communities and bring us together -and support the reading community, building readership to support our local independent bookstores.
Already, individuals in several First Nations communities have expressed interest in getting Little Free Libraries going.
Will Ferrey, pastor at St. Columba Anglican-United church is interested in starting another branch in Tofino.
Got books? Donate 'em if you're done with them! There's your local public library, the CIBC book wagons, your local independent booksellers and of course, the West Coast Little Free Libraries. This will make room for more new books on your shelves! Check us out on Facebook at West Coast Reads.
We are proud to welcome the partnership of Hugh Boyd Secondary School's Interact Club, who have taken a book drive for the
West Coast school-wide. These books will be shared with literacy organizations and daycares as well as the West Coast Little Free Library network.
We want to put the West Coast on the reading map! We also welcome your pictures of great books in great places on the West Coast. We are looking to build links with authors and publishers as well.
I am a reformed book hoarder, and have vowed that for every book I donate to the Little Free Library, I will take one apiece to my local bookseller and thrift store too, because I appreciate small business that supports literacy.
Asked if the local public libraries aren't free, I respond with a hearty yessss! We love libraries.
Tap water is available in more than one place in town, and that's awesome everywhere it's found. We support local libraries, and booksellers and we hope that people who discover new genres or authors at the Little Free Library will expand their horizon at the library, at the bookseller, at school, wherever books can be found.
Special thanks to Westerly News publisher Hugh Nicholson, and to Les Gould of Vancouver Island Newsmedia Group for his help with the first two kiosks, and to Gerry Carmichael, Mike Dauphinee and Gord Middleton for transport and install, and Maureen and Lee at Common Loaf Bakery for hosting.
editor@westerlynews.ca