It started with an idea to support sustainable consumption in our building: an educational event about ways to divert things from the landfill, culminating in the installation of a little library – a tangible means of sharing and reusing items.
When it was first shared that a Neighbourhood Small Grant had been received for the project, neighbours jumped on board to be involved. A team was formed to help with planning the featured event. The event was held in a shared community space, with neighbours coming by to play an educational mini-game on recycling, browse informational materials on waste management, and discuss the placement and use of the little library.
The project sparked many wonderful discussions of how these ideas could be taken even further through added community efforts. Could we make better use of our outdoor space to maximize the use of the library? Could we incorporate more of the ideas raised (such as a composting area, or added gardening areas to make the space welcoming for passersby)? Could we expand the idea of the little library beyond books, leveraging it to share seeds, textiles, or art? We realized that more thoughtful planning could be done and these discussions are ongoing, with tandem plans getting underway to trial out composting ideas and plan new garden areas, in conjunction with installing the little library.
In the meantime, the community has selected a little library design and is working with a woodworker to build it, in an effort to support more Canadian trades. Once complete, its installation will occur in the spring, one piece in a now larger puzzle of place making and sustainability for our building.
The Neighbourhood Small Grants program has been integral in supporting this project. It was a joyful thing to see a simple idea pitched by one person lead to something even greater, fully owned and driven by the larger community.
