LITTLE FREE LIBRARY

In New Glasgow, NS, a population of approximately 9,500 people, an existing Little Free Library is a beloved fixture in the town that had excellent uptake and support. The town wanted to continue to engage their community in the Library and celebrate their neighbours as a way to say thanks for supporting it. Having seen a Facebook Post on Town of New Glasgow Facebook Page, promoting Activate Your Neighbourhood, one neighbour, along with town staff decided to throw a block party on Robin Row, to celebrate the first birthday of the Robin Row Little Free Library. The event was free and provided opportunities for intergenerational participation.

The event was promoted to neighbours in the immediate area by delivering flyers to their homes. Neighbours were encouraged to walk, bike or roll to the event, as there was no official parking made available. Activities that involved movement such as lawn games and a chalk zone were provided at the event to encourage movement, as well as an opportunity to do crafts (make your own bookmark) and donate books. The Little Free Library is a permanent installation, to which neighbours can continue to walk, bike or roll to engage with it.

Town recreation staff assisted with planning, facilitation, set-up, and tear down, New Glasgow Regional Police and Public Works Staff assisted with facilitating the road closure application and had staff on hand to close and reopen the road, and a modest budget allowed for the purchase of supplies, granola bars and water and to pay for a face painter. A number of volunteers helped with set up and tear down), and the local Sobey’s donated fruit for snacks.

Results and Lessons Learned

As a result of the event, there is an increased awareness of the Little Free Library in the neighbourhood and the opportunity to walk, bike and roll to participate. Neighbours also has the opportunity to create social connections with folks they had not met yet and enjoyed having a free activity in which to participate in their own neighbourhood.

Neighbours felt empowered to organize fun neighbourhood activities in the future. In fact, three months later, another neighbourhood organized a similar event. They were also introduced to Town of New Glasgow Department of Community Development Staff who can advise on the processes for organizing similar activities as well as the opportunity to borrow physical activity equipment from the Go Play Pictou County Equipment Loan Program.

Lessons learned included:

• The four-hour time block was too long. Such an event requires a shorter period of time to engage neighbours.
• There were many more neighbours who would have volunteered their time to help out. In future, more opportunities will be provided to engage them.
• Promoting directly to residents with flyers was much more effective than sharing the information with the general public.
• Events such as these empower neighbours to have the confidence to organize similar activities in their neighbourhoods. Activities don’t have to be on the same scale (involve closing the street, for example). Neighbours can use yards, local parks, etc. to gather.

Contact name, email, and phone number Veronica Deno, Active Living Manager veronica.deno@newglasgow.ca 902-755-8363 and Rosemary Davis