I have always loved reading. An assortment of genres from hilarious non-sensicial teenage angst captured on a page to autobiographies of celebrities and self-help books. I read all 4 Twilight books in 3 days over Christmas break when I was a teenager, as if that is some claim to fame. It has always been a hobby of mine, but now in this current age and stage of my life, reading for fun tends to take a backseat. This was something I wanted to change, so I could model the importance of literacy and reading skills for my children.
According to ABC Life Literacy Canada (2024) almost half of adult Canadians struggle with literacy skills. The ability to read impacts the ability to consume digital media and know what is real or what is fake, knowing where and how to access healthcare, and how to manage finances. Crucial life skills stem from reading. This is a statistic we all should be combating, starting with our children and youth. Not everyone can have equitable access to a public library for one reason or another. But everyone in walking distance of a Little Free Library can grab a book for free! There are quite a few in our region!
At our old house, there was a Little Free Library down the street. With toddlers in tow, we loved to check it out every few days to swap out our picture books for new ones. I would also grab some random fiction to enjoy as well. As such, I have found some real gems in Little Free Libraries. I have also read some real duds. My husband questions my selection choices sometimes, but I just like to see what’s out there. Everyone has a story to tell, some are just told better than others, I suppose. This is part of the allure, though. You never know what you will find inside the doors of the miniature house. It’s a game of chance. It’s a mystery box. Fast forward to our new home in North Simcoe, I knew I wanted a Little Free Library of our own.
For my birthday this past year, my husband and kids worked tirelessly to construct a mini replica of our house and gifted me with my own library! I was so excited. My dream has come true!
But this has been more than just my special thing. This has been a fun, family experiment. We have enjoyed seeing people visit our library. We love having first dibs on new books that magically appear. It has been fun to curate a collection based on the seasons, swapping out Halloween books for Christmas ones as the seasons changed. We have tried to be intentional to have a little bit of everything, for everyone. Magazines, picture books, fiction, non-fiction… you just never know what you’ll find in Handyland. We also may or may not be in cahoots with a local geocacher who may or may not have set one up in that vicinity. Maybe.
I do love my audiobooks, don’t get me wrong, but there is something magical, tactile and special about having a book in your hands. It is our hope that all will come to visit and find something great to read, especially as we gear up for the May Long weekend. Nothing says first weekend of summer to me more than a good book by the bonfire. As we transition to warmer temperatures, a book by the beach is even better. Grab your latest read from us or another curated collection in our area!
To learn more about how you can create your own Little Free Library or to find one in our area, visit: LittleFreeLibrary.org. Please note, not all Little Free Libraries are actually registered under this domain. So if you are a home-based ‘librarian’, make yours official so it can be added on the map!
