Minister Popham and Dr Sealey with the 850th Little Free Library. Image credit Teale Phelps Bondaroff GVPN.
On Saturday, August 24th, at 10 am, neighbours gathered at Piedmont Gardens, to reveal the 850th little free library (LFL) in the Capital Regional District. The LFL, aptly named “Put A Bird On It”, was installed by the Honourable Lana Popham, BC Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport and MLA for Saanich South 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 Minister Popham. “Having this new friendly gathering place is a wonderful way to encourage positive human exchanges and for people to know they are welcome.”
The LFL was built by local folk artist Michael Sheane, who specialises in the unusual. His artwork has been his passion for the past 35 years and he is constantly scanning his surroundings for materials. This little free library is made from gathered and recycled material including an old glass paned window, a decommissioned tailpipe, and some scrap metal from Lana and Rob’s home. The crow, the nest, and the eggs were carved by Sheane.
“My art work is about reaction. I like to make my pieces practical but always a little whimsical. The definition of a folk artist is using what you find in a practical, artistic way. When Lana told me about the LFL project I wanted to be on board right away. I think the piece compliments the surroundings including the stunning garden. The neighbours hopefully will love their LFL,” said folk artist Michael Sheane.
The Little Free Libraries are little book boxes that operate on the principle of ‘leave a book – take a book.’ They come in all shapes and sizes and can be found throughout the region. While most share books, there is a growing number of LFLs that share plants, seeds, toys, yarn, 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 across the Capital Regional District (CRD). The Project is led by Teale Phelps Bondaroff, a volunteer with the GVPN, who you can regularly find cycling around the region with a bike trailer full of books, topping up LFLs. To date, the project has delivered over 104,000 books to LFLs across the CRD, mapped out 850 LFLs, and helped set up over 125 LFLs.
“Having neighbours flocking to this little free library was a delight and a fantastic example of how something as simple as a little book box can bring people together and foster community,” said Teale Phelps Bondaroff, who has served as the volunteer lead of the Pocket Places Project for the past seven years. “Little free libraries have really taken flight in the region, and it’s hard to believe that there are now 850 of these delightful book boxes across the region. The creativity of our community seems to know no bounds.”
Guest Author Teale Phelps Bondaroff
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