A new Little Free Library will soon be available to families in Assiniboia, and will be located at the Assiniboia Family Centre, 501 Fourth Avenue. The new Little Free Library will focus on providing books for young children.
鈥淲e will have children鈥檚 books available in the Little Free Library, and also plan to offer puzzles, and other literacy crafts available,鈥� said Jill Zahariuk, Regional KidsFirst Community Developer for Assiniboia.
The Little Free Library is a partnership between Regional KidsFirst, the Moose Jaw Literacy Network, the Assiniboia Family Centre and the Town of Assiniboia.
There is potential for the Little Free Library to be combined with a Little Food Pantry, however there are food-related health and safety regulations that need to be followed that are being reviewed right now.
Zahariuk noted that they also hope to provide mittens, toques and socks for local families at the Little Free Library, during the winter months.
Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that promotes neighborhood book exchanges, usually in the form of a public bookcase. Access to the Little Free Library is available to local families all hours, any day of the week.
鈥淭he idea of the Little Free Library is for families to take a book, and leave a book. Any family who is unable to leave a book is still encouraged to take books from the Little Free Library. We are also accepting donated books from the community,鈥� said Zahariuk. She added that any large donations should be organized by emailing Jill at [email protected].
There is another Little Free Library located at 213 Seventh Avenue West, which is maintained by Karen Henderson. She had approached a local woodworking hobbyist who had built the library, and then painted the Little Free Library with the assistance of her daughter. Books available in this Little Free Library are mostly for adults.
The Little Free Libraries is the world鈥檚 largest book-sharing movement, with the goal to expand book access in communities. There is Little Free Libraries at the Wood Mountain Library (where the Assiniboia Times had donated the bin that they are using for their library), Glentworth, Thompson Lake and Gravelbourg too. Residents can check the Little Free Library network at https://littlefreelibrary.org/ to find out where to find access to the book-sharing sites. There is also information available for any resident who may want to start their own Little Free Library.
Families in the Assiniboia area are reminded that the Assiniboia Family Centre is now open again. There are open playtimes available on the first Saturday and third Wednesday of every month. Please register for these playtimes by contacting the Assiniboia Family Centre.
