![]() Petrie said he’d like to see more pop up throughout the city. “The second day the box was there it had books in it from the neighbours.” “The beautiful part about it is that I didn't put a book in there,” he said. He made the space even more accessible by laying down bricks where the boulevard would be so people with wheelchairs and mobility devices can move around more easily. When he heard they were looking for a place to build an accessible library, it just made sense for it to be on his property, he said. Petrie owns the group home there, which he built for his son. They spent about a year looking for a location before landing on Terry Petrie’s property. The project will continue to grow and evolve and become more accessible as we learn from each other,” Noonan said. “From there it grew into an accessible little library created around the Guelph community. The idea of creating a little library was brought forward, and they decided to combine the two ideas. “Guelph Wellington Community Living brought in People Minded Business to help parents, people supported, and staff brainstorm solutions that would create more connections to our communities, and keep the connections we had before.”įirst, they thought about building a ‘buddy bench’ for people to sit and chat – but not everyone can sit on a bench, so it wouldn’t be inclusive. “During COVID, we felt like we lost our community,” said Judy Noonan, a member of People4People. There are also books written by people with disabilities, sensory books, books on tape, and books with Braille basically, there's something for everyone of all abilities.īeside the library is a ‘buddy bench,’ where community members are encouraged to sit and read or chat and make new friends. ![]() “The books are a range of children’s books, books with pictures, books about people with disabilities, books featuring people with disabilities but not about their disability, books for adults,” said Karen Calzonetti of Community Living Guelph Wellington. That’s not the only way it’s accessible, though. There is also a tether attached to the doorknob so those with less mobility in their hands can easily open the door. It’s low to the ground making it easier for people with wheelchairs, walkers or mobility aids to reach. Now, a new one has launched with accessibility, inclusion and community in mind.Ī new Accessible Little Library (ALL) opened Monday morning outside the group home on 197 Dufferin St., launched by People4People, a self-advocacy group for adults with developmental disabilities, and Community Living Guelph Wellington, a non-profit that supports adults with developmental disabilities living in the area. While we believe that it is important as a community building tool that these organizations assemble, install, and maintain these Libraries, this program by the Friends of the Richardson Public Library will provide a Library kit from the national LFL organization at no cost to the group installing the Library.For the last few years, Free Little Libraries have been popping up all over Guelph. The Friends of the Richardson Public Library have established a program to assist neighborhood associations, homeowners associations, and similar groups in acquiring their first Little Free Library. And the books never run out, because these same neighbors are encouraged to leave books when they are finished with them, or to add even more books that they think their neighbors may enjoy.Īlthough there is nothing stopping a neighborhood association or homeowners association from building their own Library, many choose to acquire their Libraries from the Wisconsin-based LITTLE FREE, and register their Libraries in order to share information and place their Libraries “on the map”. These “Libraries” are often installed by neighborhood associations in a member’s front yard, or in the common areas of a homeowners association.Ī Little Free Library becomes a magnet for those in the neighborhood out for a walk, who might want to stop by and see what books are available. These are small boxes often mounted on poles or stands in neighborhoods that hold a small collection of books that are available on a free “take a book, return a book” basis. You have perhaps heard of the “Little Free Libraries”. The Friends of the Richardson Public Library are making available do-it-yourself kits to build these mini-libraries and post them in front of your home or somewhere in your neighborhood or homeowners association.
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