Newspaper boxes become ‘Free Little Libraries’

Where once downtown Vancouver residents and visitors could find free newspapers, they will now find books to share.

The Downtown VancouverBusiness Improvement Association and students from Simon Fraser University’ s School for the Contemporary Arts have collaborated to convert 11 old newspaper boxes into “Free Little Libraries ,” miniature lending libraries where people can take, borrow or donate books.

D VB IA president and CEO Charles Gauthier said the project is just one of a number “place making” initiatives the group is promoting—other projects have seen the revitalization of lane ways and the decoration of electrical boxes —with an eye toward making public spaces more welcoming, engaging, safe and up lifting.

The project was conceived of by a DVBIA staff er, Gauthier explained, who noticed that a number of newspaper boxes on downtown streets were going unused.

“She ran with it ,” hes a id.Sh e pitched the idea only two months ago, and no with as officially launched in 11 locations .“It shows how simple sustainability can be .”

“It really fit well with our sustainability( goals ). And more and more of our members want things like th is.It’s about creating ties and links in our community .”

The DVBIA believes the libraries will get plenty of use as a result.

Last year, they installed a comic book library and pop-up park features—colourful chairs and tables, for instance—in an open walk way running from Cord ova to Hastings streets between the Terminal City Club and the Vancouver Club. “It was very popular ,” he said. The Free Little Libraries can be found at the inter sections of Alley Oop lane way and Granville Street, Seymour Street, West Hastings Street, and West Pen der Street, and in Ackery’s Alley lane wayOrpheum Theatre and at Perch patio spaces.