A smattering of government officials, community representatives, residents and small children gathered in the Sturgeon Point Villas to celebrate the installation of the new Little Free Library July 31.
The first of its kind in St. Albert, the Little Free Library is an international project that encourages book sharing by setting up take-a-book, leave-a-book boxes in the community. Anyone looking to drop off old novels or pick up new reading materials has only to stop by the box.
“It’s a really community driven project,” said Angie Dedrick, neighbourhood development coordinator.
“This wouldn’t have been possible without volunteers donating their time and resources for a good cause.”
The box was constructed by volunteers and decorated by local children using paint donated from the local high school. Residents of the building donated books, barbecued tacos and baked cookies to celebrate the grand opening.
Giselle Rizzi, 14, and Dinusha Yagama, 19, volunteered to help organize the decoration of the Little Free Library at one of the many neighbourhood events organized by Dedrick. Yagama, a med student at the U of A, says she and Rizzi are now good friends.
“We were living in the same building and had never even talked before this,” said Yagama.
The two girls took selfies with Mayor Nolan Crouse when he stopped by to congratulate them on their work. The mayor read two of Aesop’s Fables to the crowd and gave a short speech admiring the efforts of everyone who made the Little Free Library possible.
“This is a really good idea and the infrastructure is in place for it to be a big success,” he said.
Even the RCMP showed up to wish the project well. Const. Geoff McKay took a break from his patrol to try some of the barbecue and read a story to the young children.
McKay had been retired when the RCMP asked if we wanted to be a part of the community placement team. Now he drives the Electronic Patrol Vehicle, colourfully known as the RCMP’s golf cart, and gets to chat with the locals daily.
“I’ll tell you a secret,” said McKay. “St. Albert was the best place in the world to live when I moved here all the way back in 1989. They say that the city has improved but it was always full of good people like this. Look at everyone coming together tonight, it’s really nice.“
Dedrick was happy with the turnout and said there were plans in motion to open more Little Free Libraries across the city.
Anyone who would like to know more about the Little Free Libraries program or would like to volunteer in the community is encouraged to contact Angie Dedrick at 780-418-6055 ext. 3086 or by email at [email protected].
