There is no public library in Niverville, but residents are taking matters into their own hands to improve the town access to books.
In late July, Kaite Desrosiers opened a Little Free Library in front of her home at 91 Cobblestone Court. The small structure, which looks like a miniature house, is stocked with a variety of books, and passersby are welcome to take a book, leave a book, or do both.
“I really wanted to provide an easier access point for people in our town to find books,” says Desrosiers. “I love connecting a reader with a good book. This library is a dream come true for me.”
The library may be a gift to the town from Desrosiers, but in turn it was a gift to her from her father, George Loewen. Loewen made the library for her as a gift for her thirtieth birthday. To start, she stocked the library herself, with her own books, as well as purchases from used book sales. Now, she says, other Nivervillers are pitching in.
“People were really quick to start adding their own books, or leaving donations on my porch. That helps a lot! I have to keep stocking it every couple of days!” she says. She’s hoping to soon add a waterproof container on her porch in case people wish to leave donations to put toward the maintenance of the library.
The Cobblestone Court library isn’t the only one in town, though. The Niverville Communities in Bloom Committee already has two little free libraries in the Niverville Heritage Gardens—one for children’s books, one for adults’ books, and plans are in the works for a third on Main Street.
Committee member Shirley Hoult says that the group is always looking for ways to bring some street scape into the community. She says that the upcoming addition on Main Street is a good demonstration of how community groups can work together.
“This library will be a mailbox donated by the Progressive Group, recycled and painted by students from This Little Light Artistry with approval for installation on a Main Street property provided by Cara and Ray Dowse,” Hoult says. “The little artists will be happy to see their work displayed on Main Street for the community to enjoy. The libraries are intended in some small way to bring the community together, to provide a feel-good moment.”
Desrosiers agrees with the importance of bringing people together, noting that she has had neighbours come out to chat with her about the books in the library.
The Little Free Library movement officially began in 2009 in Wisconsin and is a registered nonprofit. Library “sponsors” can choose to register their Little Free Libraries online to be added to an official map. There are none currently registered in Niverville, although this doesn’t seem to have prevented people from finding the libraries currently in place; Desrosiers says she has restocked her shelves more than once already and hopes that the books keep moving.
“I really hope everyone feels comfortable using it, whether you’re in walking distance or not,” she adds. “It’s all just about spreading the books around.”
