Cordova Bay residents gathered at Piedmont Gardens for the official unveiling of Greater Victoria's 850th little free library on Saturday, Aug. 24.
Since 2017, the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network has been running the Pocket Places Project, which maps, promotes, stocks, and helps build little free libraries across the south Island. To date, the project has delivered more than 104,000 books across Greater Victoria, mapped out 850 little libraries, and helped set up over 125 of the neighbourhood book exchanges.
"It's pretty huge and mind-boggling to think there are now 850 little libraries in the region, and there's no sense in stopping," said Teale Phelps Bondaroff, Pocket Places Project lead. He told Black Press Media about starting the project with his partner in 2017, and trying to reach 150 libraries by Canada's 150th anniversary.
The region's newest library, named "Put A Bird On It" after the crow sculpture that sits under the library, was designed by local folk artist Michael Sheane.
"The definition of a folk artist is using what you find in a practical, artistic way," Sheane said in the release. "My artwork is about reaction. I like to make my pieces practical but always a little whimsical."
Sheane specializes "in the unusual". The library is made from gathered and recycled material including an old glass-paned window, a decommissioned tailpipe, and some scrap metal. The crow's nest sculpture was also carved by Sheane.
"I think the piece compliments the surroundings, including the stunning garden. The neighbours hopefully will love their LFL," he said.
The library was installed by Saanich-South MLA Lana Popham and her partner Dr. Rob Sealey.
"We are so happy to have the 850th LFL in our cul-de-sac at Piedmont Gardens. We love our neighbourhood because of our connections with our neighbours, but we also have many visitors coming through from Doumac Park,” said Popham, who lives in the area, in the release. “Having this new friendly gathering place is a wonderful way to encourage positive human exchanges and for people to know they are welcome.”
Little free libraries are book boxes that operate on the principle of "leave a book – take a book," and they come in all shapes and sizes and can be found throughout the region. Teale also mentioned that there are libraries with plants and seeds, board games and puzzles, art supplies and more.
For a map of Greater Victoria's little free libraries, visit https://victoriaplacemaking.ca/little-free-libraries.
