800th Little Free Library unveiled in Victoria

The Capital Regional District (CRD) is now home to 800 Little Free Libraries (LFL).

On Dec. 18, 2023 at 12pm, neighbours gathered on Pembroke Street to cut the ribbon on the 800th LFL in the region.

According to the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network (GVPN), it was installed by Gaye Sihin, an investor and admirer of architecture.

“I fell in love with this house the moment I saw it,” said Sihin. “The brick and front archway reminds me of old buildings in Toronto, where I grew up. When I moved in, I learned that the home was built in 1890 by the Adams Family, bricklayers who were also responsible for our BC Parliament Buildings, and I wanted to revive its prominence and grandeur.”

This latest LFL is an adorable replica of the house at 1215 Pembroke St. It was built by Ray Young, a former management consultant whose company, I Used To Be A Pallet, upcycles old pallets into LFLs.

“When Gaye first approached me about replicating her home as an LFL, l knew the brickwork and roof shape would be the most challenging to replicate, but all the more interesting to do so successfully,” said Young.

“As an avid reader with a passion for sustainability, my initial goals for LFLs were to promote reading and to upcycle materials headed for the scrap heap. More recently, I’ve had the opportunity to creatively replicate some of the outstanding architecture that exists in the city.”

Little free libraries are little public book boxes that operate on the principle of ‘leave a book – take a book.’

While most share books, there is a growing number of LFLs that specialize in a certain type of book, as well as ones that are dedicated to sharing plants, seeds, toys, household items, board games, puzzles, art supplies, art, food and more.

Since 2017, the GVPN has been running the Pocket Places Project, which maps, promotes, stocks, and helps build LFLs.

The Project is led by Teale Phelps Bondaroff, a volunteer with the GVPN. He even cycles around the region with a bike trailer full of books to top up the LFLs.

“It’s amazing how something as simple as a whimsical little book box can serve to connect people, create identity of place, and ultimately help build community,” said Phelps Bondaroff.

“It’s delightful to see the coral reefs for community popping up all over our region. I’m pleased to say that the CRD has the highest documented density of little libraries in the country.”