Melbourne streets become little libraries

MELBOURNE streets have turned a new page with pop-up local libraries appearing in all shapes and sizes, from fridges to bird houses.

MELBOURNE streets have turned a new page with pop-up local libraries appearing in all shapes and sizes, from fridges to bird houses.

The Street Library initiative was started by bookworm Nic Lowe after seeing a similar concept while travelling in the US.

Twins Chiara, 4 and Siena, 4 check out the new books in Coburg all the time. Picture: Jason Edwards

“It’s a good, simple community project that anyone can get involved in,” he said.

Readers can take any book for free and replace it with one of their own. The tiny libraries have expanded out of the city and can be found from Port Fairy to Albury.

“It’s not just an inner-city program — lots of rural communities get involved,” Mr Lowe said. “If the local library is 400km away, these become the de facto ones.”

With plans to have 5000 street libraries across Australia by 2021, the little depositories are proving real page-turners.

And, with many of the libraries now offering magazines, CDs and children’s books, there are more than just bestsellers and unloved tomes on offer.

Chiara and Siena’s grandmother Lucia said the girls loved checking their mini-library.

“They always say to me, ‘Let’s go down and see what’s in the library today, Nonna.”

Netlink: streetlibrary.org.au