This past weekend was a monumental one for readers of Greater Victoria.
On Saturday, May 24th, neighbours and community members gathered in front of a home located at 567 Walter Avenue to unveil the 900th little free library (LFL) in the Capital Regional District (CRD).
This particular LFL has been given the apt name “Books and Bikes,” as it was installed by a local child care worker and motorcycle enthusiast, Alexis.
Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock and municipal Councillor Teale Phelps Bondaroff met with Alexis to unveil this latest addition in the Burnside-Gorge neighborhood to the LFL network.
“I am an avid reader and after many years of debating whether I should set up my own little free library, I decided now is a great time,” said Alexis.
“I am constantly driving around town dropping books off to other little free libraries because the ones in our neighbourhood are always well-stocked (not a bad thing), so I thought why not add one of my own and experience the joy it brings others on our busy street.”
Alexis’ LFL was made from upcycling an old cabinet she found on the side of the road. After a fresh coat of paint and some help from her husband, the LFL was ready to be used by community members near and far.
“We wanted this little free library to not only be a place where people in the community can come and exchange books but also a way to show our own personality as well – so we added some old school chopper flames and dragons to show my appreciation for old choppers and fantasy,” said Alexis.
LFLs operate on the principle of ‘leave a book – take a book’ throughout the Greater Victoria region, coming in all shapes and sizes.
Most share books exclusively; however, there is a growing number of LFLs that share plants, seeds, toys, yarn, household items, board games, puzzles, art supplies, art, food and more.
The LFLs are overseen by the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network (GVPN) and their Pocket Places Project initiative.
Councillor Phelps Bondaroff heads up this project in addition to his work as a municipal councillor for Saanich, and he can often be seen cycling around the region with a bike trailer full of books to top up the LFLs.
“Little free libraries are more than just book boxes – they’re powerful placemaking tools that help turn neighbourhoods into communities,” said Phelps Bondaroff.
“It’s incredible to see 900 of these delightful libraries across the region. They spark joy, encourage creativity, and act like coral reefs for community – drawing people together, fostering friendships, and connecting neighbours through the simple act of sharing stories. It is little surprise that our region is so enamoured with these adorable little free libraries.”
To date, over 123,570 books have been delivered to LFLs throughout the CRD.
To see a map of all LFLs on record, click here.
