Nothing brings whimsy to the Greater Victoria community better than the region’s many Little Free Libraries (LFLs)!
It’s time to celebrate the creativity, ingenuity and generosity of the region’s LFLs with the second annual Greater Victoria Little Free Library Awards.
The nomination period is now over, but voting is officially open for this endeavour, and will be until Tuesday, September 8th.
For the few who have never happened upon one of Greater Victoria’s over 1,037 LFLs, they are little book boxes that operate on the principle of ‘leave a book—take a book.’
LFLs come in all shapes and sizes and can be found throughout the region, and share more than just books. Some little libraries across the region contain plants, seeds, puzzles, board games, household items, toys, art, art supplies, pet toys and accessories, yarn, food and more.
Many book LFLs even specialize in poetry, children’s books, French books, zines and magazines.
The Greater Victoria Placemaking Network (GVPN) has been overseeing the LFLs as part of their Pocket Places Project since 2017.
Through this program, volunteers map, promote, stock and help build LFLs across the capital region.
To date, the project has delivered nearly 150,000 books, has mapped out over 1,000 LFLs and helped set up over 143 of them.
The GVPN launched the Greater Victoria Little Free Library Awards last year in an effort to celebrate the best of the best, the hidden gems and the ones that offer truly unique wares.
“This year, the most popular category, based on the number of nominations received, was the ‘LFL that looks like another thing category,’ where we had nine nominations, including LFLs that look like boats and ships, miniature houses, greenhouses, a church and a lighthouse,” said Teale Phelps Bondaroff, volunteer lead of the Pocket Places Project.
“The categories of ‘most creative,’ ‘made from upcycled/reused materials, and ‘coral reef LFL,’ also received a large number of nominations each (8).”
Phelps Bondaroff added that people’s creativity and the diversity of LFLs never ceases to impress and astound him.
For this year’s awards, 59 LFLs have been nominated across ten prize categories:
- Best plant/seed LFL
- Best puzzle/board game LFL
- Most verdant green roof
- Best children’s LFL
- Most creative LFL
- Best LFL with a fish on it
- Best LFL that looks like another thing
- Best LFL built from upcycled/reused materials
- Best Gulf Islands LFL
- Coral Reef LFL – Best associated placemaking element(s)
“Last year it was incredible to showcase our region’s Little Free Libraries, and spotlight the uniqueness of each one, and bring together communities that love and enjoy the LFLs in their neighbourhoods,” said Bella Lee, GVPN Board Member.
“For folks that have borrowed a book, this is the best time to give back to your Little Free Library, and celebrate the many others you pass by, or are wowed by online.
After voting ends on Tuesday, September 8th at 10 p.m., winners will be announced at a community event on Sunday, September 13th.
Check out all the nominees and vote for your favourite here!
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