Little Free Library locations in British Columbia

Susan Cumberland Published: October 25, 2013 Last Updated Date: June 28, 2024

Have you ever heard of a Little Free Library? Perhaps you’ve seen a little hutch that looks like a cross between a mailbox and a birdhouse around your neighbourhood. You may have gone right by thinking; 1) it is a mailbox or 2) it is a birdhouse. What you might have seen is a Little Free Library. There are currently at least four Little Free Library locations in the Lower Mainland.

What is a Little Free Library?

A Little Free Library is a small hutch that is built out of recycled materials. Anyone who would like to have a Little Free Library in their community can purchase one from the Little Free Library website. Once the Little Free Library has been set up in a specific location it can begin operating as a book sharing point. People within the community can visit the Little Free Library at any time, because there are no opening or closing hours. All book sharing is by the means of the “take one, leave one” honour system, so you have to remember to leave a book when you take one, otherwise there won’t be any books left in the library!

How does the Little Free Library work?

If you want to visit a Little Free Library near you, all you need to know are these simple rules. Open the door of the hatch and peruse the different books that are available. Then you can choose a book to take home with you as long as you leave another book in the hutch to replace it. This could be a new book that you’ve finished reading or some old favorites that you want to share with more people. This concept of book sharing is not something new. These creative designs are popping up all over the world and are functioning to bring communities together because of the love of books.

What is the purpose of the Little Free Library?

The goal of the organization that started building Little Free Libraries is to foster the love of reading and literacy among new and experienced readers, both young and old. Little Free Libraries have been established in many countries already, but there is still the hope that even more locations would be established world wide to encourage even more book sharing within communities.