Second-hand books are wild books, homeless books; they have come together in vast flocks of variegated feather, and have a charm which the domesticated volumes of the library lack.
Virginia Woolf
Street libraries bring the joy of reading to everyone. The way they work is simple. You can take a book (or magazine) or several for free, with no registration required. There are no due dates either — whenever you’re done, return the item for others to enjoy.
If you don’t have a street library where you live, why not make one? They are easy to set up and will bring a stronger sense of community to where you live, share resources and encourage a love of reading.
Building and decorating
You don’t have to be a DIY wiz to make a functional street library. There are lots of design guides online, or you can keep it really simple and just utilise a box with a lid (make sure it is waterproof though to protect the books).
Streetlibrary.org.au sells pre-made library boxes that you can personalise through painting and decorating. You may like to display your street name or suburb on it, or incorporate images that are meaningful to the area you live in.
It’s a good idea to secure your street library to your property so that the entire thing doesn’t get “borrowed”! You can nail it onto a post in your front yard or your fence — this will also prevent it from toppling over.
Establishing your collection
Think about who is likely to use your street library. If there are lots of families with young kids nearby, stock up on children’s books. More of an older demographic? Think of books that may appeal to the nearby residents.
You don’t need to spend much, or even any, money in building your second hand book collection. Ask around to see if your family and friends have books they can part with, and check out your local op-shop for some cheap reads to offer. It’s a great idea to stock magazines too, so why not start things off with this very copy of Being once you’ve finished with it?
Promoting your library
Once you’ve set up your street library, foot traffic will provide your first borrowers, but you can spread the word more widely too. Drop off flyers in your neighbourhood announcing the arrival of the street library, and if your area has a Facebook group page, post on there as well.
Some people might not understand how these libraries function, so it’s a good idea to have a sign fixed to the box explaining that passers-by can take and drop off books. Some may need to be assured that there is no “catch” — no money is exchanged, no details collected.
A symbol of trust and hope
The Street Library website refers to street libraries as “a symbol of trust and hope”. When you offer up items for free, you are providing something to people — and in the case of books and magazines, they can give us inspiration, connection, understanding, entertainment.
These libraries are built on trust, and while it’s good practice to return the reading materials or donate some others, this isn’t a requirement. People can take as they need. Yet you’re likely to see your little library grow and blossom, as it becomes a utilised and appreciated resource for your community.
Want to learn about being inspired? Visit our inspired archive.
