Greater Victoria Placemaking Network celebrates over 1 000 little free libraries in Victoria, and the community built along the way
Photo courtesy of the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network.
The Greater Victoria Placemaking Network (GVPN) has launched the Little Free Library (LFL) Awards in celebration of reaching over 1 000 LFLs at the end of September this year.
Nominations opened to the community on Sept. 20, and stayed open for about a month, after which the community had about a month to vote for their winners. With 59 nominations across ten categories, and 200 votes from the community, the first annual LFL Awards was a success.
Winners were announced on Nov. 13 at the GVPM AGM, and notified individually over the following days. Each winner received a tiny plaque to stick on the sides of their libraries.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff, Saanich city councillor and lead of the LFL project, said that “[his] vision is, in 20 years, one little library [with] a couple little plaques on it.”
Phelps Bondaroff has been running the LFL project across Greater Victoria since 2017, and said that in that time, the project has distributed over 132 000 books — but says it’s so much more than that.
Over the years, the LFLs have expanded beyond books into numerous other categories including art supplies, children’s toys, non-perishable food, seeds, and more.
These LFLs are about community building at their core, and the awards are no exception. Phelps Bondaroff explained that “usually, you set up a library, and it sits there passively, and the most interesting thing that happens is that you have to replace the plexiglass or add books.”
For Phelps Bondaroff, the awards are just one of many ways that the GVPN works to get the community excited about getting involved.
As far as plans go for the future, Phelps Bondaroff said “the project’s very fluid.” Though, he shared that he keeps wanting to distribute books, help people build LFLs, and do the awards again next year. He also wants to work on supporting LFLs that share things other than books, such as plant and seed, or board game and puzzle, LFLs, as well as possibly creating one for hygiene products.
After nearly a decade, Phelps Bondaroff said that he continues to be inspired by “the whimsy” of the LFLs, and by the way that they soften the hard edges of the city.
“It can be easy for you to hate someone you don’t know, but when you know your neighbor and you’re connected to people around you, you have community and the things that separate us don’t seem so different then,” he said.
The winners of the awards are as follows, according to a press release sent by Phelps Bondaroff:
Best Plant/Seed LFL: The Yates Street Community Garden LFL — found at Yates St. and Vancouver St. in Victoria, and sharing books and seeds with the community.
Best Boardgame/Puzzle LFL: Esquimalt Puzzle and Game LFL — found at Bewdley Ave. near Kinver St. in Esquimalt, and just next to a LFL dedicated to sharing children’s books, it is always well-stocked with puzzles and board games.
Most Verdant Greenroof: Eagle View LFL — found at Eagle View Elementary School, in View Royal, and hosting a spectacular succulent garden on its roof.
Best Literary Themed LFL: Wonderland LFL — found at Pembroke St. and Oregon Ave. in Fernwood, Victoria, and festooned with Alice and Wonderland decorations, including mushrooms, caterpillar, playing cards, and of course, the Cheshire Cat.
Cutest LFL: Snoopy LFL — found on the 1200-block of Richardson St. in Victoria. One of at least four Peanuts-themed LFLs in the region, with day dreaming Snoopy on its roof.
Most Creative LFL: The Art of Reading LFL — found at the 3300-block of Wordsworth St. in Saanich, and featuring 96 meticulously hand-painted stained glass book spines, full stained glass walls, a rotating book shelf, and brass fixtures.
Best LFL with a Bird On It: Baba Yaga Books — found at Llewelyn Place, in North Saanich, this LFL stands on two spindly bird legs, and is an ornithological delight.
Best Organized LFL: That Little Blue Library — found at the 4500-block of West Saanich Rd. in Saanich. It has well-organized shelves and a well-organized social media presence on Instagram.
Best LFL That Looks Like Another Thing: Beckley Cottage Book Box — found on the 400-block of Parry St. in Victoria. This LFL is an identical miniature version of the historic Beckley Cottage, built in 1901 and moved to its current location in 1980.
Best Upcycled/Reused LFL: BlueKayak Books — found in front of BestCoast Outfitters on the 800-block of Yates St. in Victoria. As the name suggests, this LFL was built from an upcycled kayak.
