Across the Cowichan Valley, you might spot a small box tucked away on a street corner or in a park, filled with books to borrow or exchange. To make them easier to find, The Discourse has created a map of these little free libraries with each location submitted by our readers.
The term “little free library” was coined in 2009 when Todd Bol created the first one. It was a schoolhouse-style box dedicated to his mother, according to the nonprofit LittleFreeLibrary.org. The Minnesota-based organization sells kits for building book boxes and allows people to register their own, which are then added to an online map.
In the Cowichan Valley, only a handful of little free libraries are registered, but many more exist.
Some communities have local initiatives promoting them. The Greater Victoria Placemaking Network maintains its own map of little free libraries — some of which also serve as little free pantries. In Kamloops, the creator of a little free library created a crowd-sourced map.
In Mill Bay and Shawnigan Lake, the South Cowichan Rotary Club has built 17 little free libraries and actively maintains them. The project started in 2017 when members recognized the need for spaces to swap books and saw an opportunity to support literacy in the South Cowichan area.
“It’s a real labour of love,” club president Shirley Franklin said. “We want to be able to share these things with people.”
Whether you are in Mill Bay, North Cowichan or elsewhere in the Valley, check out our map to find the one closest to you. If you know of one that should be included, please email the location to cowichan@thediscourse.ca and we’ll add it to the map.
Where to find little free libraries in the Cowichan Valley
Libraries for all
Abby Sauchuk is the new executive director of Literacy Now Cowichan, a nonprofit that works to democratize education through a volunteer network. The group’s tutors teach everything from basic reading and math to financial literacy and technology skills for seniors. Sauchuk said expanding access to reading materials can benefit the community.
“It’s one of those things that, the minute you see one of those [little free libraries] in the neighborhood, you know that there are people there who volunteer their time and care about literacy,” she said.
Research shows that access to books can encourage reading at a young age. A 2024 U.S. study that evaluated the little free library program in Baltimore County, Maryland found that 92 per cent of children reported having more access to books and nearly half said they were reading more often — on average 1.1 additional days per week — because of local book boxes.
“Literacy has always been a big interest for Rotary,” Franklin said. “When kids are able to read and encouraged to read it makes a huge difference in their education and how they go forward in life.”
How to start a little free library in your community
There are no set rules for building a little free library, but the Victoria Place Making Network has a guide to get aspiring library curators started.
They suggest either building a book box from scratch or converting something such as an old cabinet, doll house or even a refrigerator. Not all little free libraries are outdoors — some can be found on shelves in coffee shops or other public places.
Once a library is built, the placemaking network has a list of tips to help keep it running smoothly.
“Little free libraries definitely have their place, especially in areas like the Cowichan Valley, where there’s a lot of more remote communities,” Sauchuk said.
