Little Street Libraries
The other day, Tolkien hid in a cupboard. With him was a chef, a ballerina mouse and a hit man. Next to the hit man was a couple falling madly in love under the shelter of a history. All of them waiting - frozen in time - for someone to open the door.
The cupboard stood by the bike path under a tree with a garden growing all around. Birds freely showered the cupboard with song and other, more ... picturesque decorative ideas. Nearby was a sign thanking people for donations of empty plant pots.
We stumbled over the cupboard on a ramble one afternoon and it was like finding treasure. I found a textbook of neuropsychological tests, which made my kids screw up their faces in disgust (“What do you want a text book for, Mum?” “Now we have to carry it home.”) And then they had a blast testing each other’s memories.
Since then, we’ve found several other little street libraries and scooped up thrillers, mysteries, adventures, cookbooks, picture books and more. We’ve dropped off all of the above as well, and come back a few days later to find all our donations had vanished.
Maybe they were hiding too.
Maybe someone found them.
You can plant a Little Street Library in your own neighbourhood. It’s free to run, and you can choose to register it at https://streetlibrary.org.au/. You can build your own or purchase the materials from their website. Then you can load it with books you want to share, and wait for donations to appear.
You never know what’s going to turn up the next day. Take a book, give a book, share a book, and enjoy.
