A message from the Federation of Calgary Communities
What:
- A ‘Little Library’ is small and free and whatever shape you’d like it to be. The idea is that the Little Library sits on your lawn or in a public space where neighbours can take a book or leave a book.
Purpose:
- Neighbours get to know one another by gathering around the library
- Encourages reading for adults and kids
- Help build momentum for your community association’s programs and services
- Engages the community by offering participation in little libraries
- Encourage positive use of the community and its assets
- Proactive community-based crime prevention
Checklist:
Before:
- Find a home for your community’s Little Library. This can be on your property or in a public place, like a park or community association. If you choose a public place, ensure to get permission from the landowner or the City.
- Choose a steward to take care of the Little Library. This can be one person or a couple people who will be in charge of making sure the Little Library is cleaned, stocked, and inviting for the public.
- Build the Little Library or purchase one from www.littlefreelibraries.org. Get creative! Little Libraries can look like telephone booths, bird houses, mailboxes, etc.
- Call Alberta One Call or go to their website www.albertaonecall.com to have someone ensure that the area for your Little Library is safe to dig.
- Collect books from family, friends, or neighbours.
- Assign the role of advertising to one to two individual(s). Consider newsletter articles, bulletin boards, or the community association website.
Ongoing:
- Stewards will be in charge of cleaning and stocking the Little Library. This will be their ongoing responsibility after the Little Library is installed. Be sure the stewards have a stockpile of books for restocking.
Key Consideration:
- Little Libraries can be registered internationally at www.littlefreelibraries.org for the cost of
$34.95. To have your Little Library placed on a Calgary map for free, email [email protected].
- Consider planning a block party for an inaugural celebration of your community’s Little Library.
Check out Love Where You Live: Host a Block Party! in the Building Safe Communities’ Virtual Resource Centre at www.calgarycommunities.com.
For more information on Little Libraries check out the Federation of Calgary Communities’ resource Little Libraries.
