At its heart, the style of free libraries is defined by personal expression. These small structures, often no larger than a kitchen cabinet, invite passersby to interact with the library through playful styling, ranging from whimsical to “house-like” to nostalgic.
Adam Conway and Morgan Kunitz live their lives with their blinds open. From their home in Inglewood on 127 Street north of 111 Avenue, they sit by the living room window and watch their neighbours as they make their way to a classic metal newspaper box steps from their front lawn. It’s their little free library. Complete with a bench hand-built by Conway and a community pantry, the spot has become a small third space for the neighbourhood.
Even as neighbourhood renewal projects were happening, the city contractors moved the library to facilitate construction but carefully placed it right back. Doesn’t matter how tiny, it is now a landmark, a part of our city’s identity — much like every other little free library in various corners of Edmonton.
The little free library “take-a-book, leave-a-book” movement was popularized by Todd Bol in Hudson, Wis., in 2009. After his mom’s passing, he decided to pay tribute to her by building a tiny schoolhouse out of used wood from his old garage door. His mom was a schoolteacher who loved to read. It seemed fitting to share her passion for reading with others by filling the tiny box with books and placing it in his front yard for his neighbourhood to enjoy.
A year later, the non-profit organization Little Free Library was established. What began as a personal tribute has grown into a global phenomenon, with more than 100,000 registered libraries across all seven continents. Readers can even locate nearby libraries using the organization’s online map.
“People are hungry for connection,” says Daniel Gumnit, executive director and CEO of the organization. “This is bigger than yourself, it is about building a community through books.” Whether you are a visitor borrowing a novel or a steward caring for a library, he says, you play an important role in sustaining that mission.
Every time a little library is built it becomes part of that place’s history, adds Gumnit. Edmonton has embraced that idea, with hundreds of little libraries now scattered across the city. “Scavanging for little libraries around your city can encourage you to explore a new area or it can also make your usual routes more interesting,” says Gumnit.
In Edmonton, one archivist has made it a goal to map out all the free libraries in Edmonton, including the unregistered ones.
Allendale | 6625 106 St NW, Edmonton | @theedmontonbookfairy
Within this whimsical purple antique cabinet, Melissa Wardley hosts three shelves filled with a bit of every genre. As “the book fairy”, she brings a bit of magic to the Allendale neighbourhood. Wardley recalls one of her most cherished moments: people rushing over from the nearby bus stop to quickly peek at the current literary collection, taking advantage of every second before they spot their ride around the corner.
MacEwan | 3562 McLean Crescent SW, Edmonton
“This is the kids’ go-to field trip spot,” says Elise Eichmuller about her little library. It’s close to grade schools and is two-tiered: a four-foot-high repository caters to the adults, and a shorter one specifically for little ones. The kids’ box is also placed right on top of a bench, so they have a comfy spot to sit and enjoy a story for a few minutes.
Chambery | 110 Street and 176 Avenue, Edmonton
Miranda Dejarme describes her box as a natural neighbourhood hub. “When people pause to browse, it’s an opening to start a conversation where perhaps a conversation wouldn’t have started before, simply over the love of books,” she says. And the outside of it is her own canvas — each side of it is decorated with a different original painting. But one specific side serves as a featured artwork section where anyone can leave a piece of artwork. Dejarme collects it, laminates it and then displays it.
Prince Charles | 122 Avenue and 124 Street, Edmonton | @freelittleartgalleryyeg
Kelli Gariepy is helping break the misconception that art is only meant for a specific audience by helping make art accessible to anyone who wants to enjoy it. Her box features little paintings and also handmade crafts (like earrings, paper flowers and notebooks) that are left behind for others to appreciate or to take with them.
Parkview | 8912 148 Street NW | @free.blockbuster
Go outside and browse a physical collection of DVDs, Blu-rays and VHS tapes for your next movie night. Aysha O’Brien, owner of this little blockbuster box, says that with the nostalgia of older media and the rise of streaming services, having the ability to share physical media with the community “adds a fun layer of engagement.”
