Mapping Vancouver's neighborhood book exchanges
As an avid reader, I adore the many neighborhood book exchanges that have popped up around our city in the last few years.
The concept behind the exchanges is simple: enterprising citizens build a dry storage space, usually visible from the street. Patrons are encouraged to take or leave a book (or two) as they like, which ensures a diversity of titles that rotate fairly quickly over time.
These pocket libraries not only encourage people to read—they're open 24 hours a day every day of the year, and there are no library fines to deal with—but they also foster a sense of community, providing a meeting spot for neighbours to connect and share their favourite books.
And since the libraries can also be fairly anonymous—you won't necessarily know who's leaving or taking books—no one is going to judge you if you grab, say, a dog-eared copy of Twilight to guiltily read in the privacy of your home.
Unfortunately, there's no central website cataloguing these treasures.
Some are part of the Little Free Library network, which offers tips on how to construct and curate an exchange, and also sells pre-fabricated libraries and kits that make it easier to build your own. But many are simply the work of enterprising bibliophiles who want to share their passion for books.
To that end, I'm attempting to document the myriad of pop-up libraries in Vancouver.
Here's my work in progress; as you can see, East Vancouver is well-represented:
Can't see the map? Refresh the page!
Got a favourite free library to add? Let us know in the comments section below or send locations, photos, and/or names of library stewards to webeditor@straight.com.
Happy reading!
Comments
21 Comments
LM
Jan 21, 2014 at 2:10pm
There's one around 22nd/23rd and Yukon, but not sure of the exact cross street.
JM
Jan 21, 2014 at 2:43pm
West End: On Cardero between Comox and Nelson.
Miranda Nelson
Jan 21, 2014 at 2:56pm
Thanks! I've added both of these to the map!
Kathryn Zemliya
Jan 21, 2014 at 5:10pm
There is a large free library in the 2500 block of East 2nd in Vancouver offering books, CDs and DVDs,
Miranda Nelson
Jan 21, 2014 at 5:16pm
Ooh, thanks Kathryn! And that one has a Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/SecondAvenueFreeLibrary
Sharolyn
Jan 21, 2014 at 6:08pm
You've listed it already, but I feel compelled to share this photo from last summer at the Penticton and William book exchange. http://eastsidemum.com/index.php/hastings-sunrise-book-exchange/
Stella
Jan 22, 2014 at 3:29am
There's one on Granville Island
M. Diane Rogers
Jan 23, 2014 at 5:03pm
The Lower Mainland Bookcrossing Meetup Group has a shelf that's always full of free books at the Heartwood Community Cafe, 317 E. Broadway (at Kingsway, near Main), Vancouver. (Formerly the Rhizome.) To learn more about Vancouver area Bookcrossing, check out our Meetup site: http://www.meetup.com/bcbooks/ or our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GreaterVancouverBookcrossing
Lisa
May 29, 2014 at 5:41pm
Turner near Lillooet!
ivancurtis
May 31, 2014 at 11:20am
West 6th Ave and Dunbar