Little Free Libraries | Teale Phelps Bondaroff

Little Free Library News

Victoria Buzz, December 14, 2023

Greater Victoria will see its 800th Little Free Library open its tiny doors this Monday

Books are food for the soul and Greater Victoria has no shortage of places to find something special, especially with the vastness of the ever-growing Little Free Library network.

This coming Monday, December 18th, that network will grow once more reaching a new milestone. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place with a number of Fernwood neighbours gathered around for the occasion at 1215 Pembroke Street to witness the official opening of the 800th Little Free Library.

Victoria Buzz, October 16, 2023

‘Little library extraordinaire’: Victoria man builds 50th Little Free Library

The Greater Victoria Placemaking Network and book enthusiasts are celebrating a huge milestone for Bruce More—the Little Free Library (LFL) extraordinaire. He recently built and installed his 50th LFL this fall at 731 Macan Place, which is being managed by Evamarie Nikelski and Chris Weicker. This passion project journey began in March 2021—as a retired Music Professor from the University of Victoria, he was looking for something engaging and creative to do.

CHEK News, July 31, 2023

‘They’re about community’: CRD’s 700th little free library opens

Placemaking looks to turn the page and make communities “more human,” explains [Phelps] Bondaroff. He says the libraries are a fantastic way for locals to play an active role in making that reality. “People in this region love little free libraries. Little free libraries are all about sharing, they’re about community, they’re about connecting people,” [Phelps] Bondaroff told CHEK News at the ribbon-cutting event in Vic West.

CHEK News, September 25, 2022

650th little free library opens in CRD

“It’s really exciting to see how big the little free library project has gotten,” Phelps Bondaroff said in an interview with CHEK News. “When I started the project we had 111 little libraries, and our goal was to get to 150 for Canada’s 150th, and here we are, cutting the ribbon on the 650th little free library in the region.”

Teale Phelps Bondaroff delivering 75,000th Book 3 - Credit GVPN.jpg

VictoriaBuzz, September 22, 2022

75,000th book delivered to the little free library network in Greater Victoria

Book lovers, rejoice, another little free library is coming to Victoria. This Saturday, the organization behind upkeeping all the little free libraries (LFLs) around town, will be unveiling the 650th LFL. This milestone comes just days after the group announced the LFLs now host more than 75,000 books around the region. The Greater Victoria Placemaking Network (GVPN) Pocket Places Project has been delivering books to LFLs since 2017 and this week they hit their newest milestone of 75,000 books delivered.

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GVPN, June 13, 2022

Play Little Free Library Bingo

Did you know? Now you can create your own Little Free Library Bingo Card!

If you’ve ever visited more than one little free library, you’ve likely noticed the same book or author popping up: The Da Vinci Code, say, or one of Danielle Steele’s potboilers. Rather than get frustrated by this, we decided to come up with a fresh way to engage with Victoria’s amazing and expansive network of little free libraries (LFLs): Little Free Library Bingo!

Times Colonist, May 24, 2022

Jack Knox: Little free libraries a reminder of grassroots goodness

Why does all this matter? Because in a world in which a steady barrage of negative news warps our perspective, little free libraries are a reminder of a basic goodness that is more common than we often realize. They’re an indicator of grassroots decency, just like the chairs that people install at rural bus stops, or the water dishes left for dogs outside local shops.

Murray Rankin Dropping of TandR Book.jpg

Times Colonist, August 17, 2021

Working on reconciliation, one free little library at a time

“Little free libraries are an incredible way to promote reading, start conversations with our neighbours, and create community,” Rankin said. “We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation and I am encouraged by the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network’s initiative to bring conversations and knowledge about reconciliation to Victoria neighbourhoods.”

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Times Colonist, February 17, 2021

Little free libraries like 'coral reefs for community'

Teale Phelps Bondaroff spends a lot of his time thinking about books. A couple of times a week he loads up a bike trailer, which can hold up to 250 paperbacks, and pedals around town delivering books to free little libraries in need of a top-up. The weekend before last, he delivered the 20,000th book to a little library in Saanich as part of a placemaking project started in 2017.

2024

2024-01-31 - GVPN: "Our Amazing Placemakers, an interview with Ray Young."
2024-01-04 - Victoria Now: "800th Little Free Library unveiled in Victoria."

2023

2023-12-27 - Saanich News: "Retired Greater Victoria consultant crafts wasted wood into libraries."
2023-12-20 - GVPN: "Ribbon cut on the 800th Little Free Library in the CRD!"
2023-12-20 - Terrace Standard: "B.C. capital’s little free library project passes 800 boxes, 85,000 books."
2023-12-15 - Victoria News: "Greater Victoria’s 800th little free library started as a pallet."
2023-12-14 - Victoria Buzz: "Greater Victoria will see its 800th Little Free Library open its tiny doors this Monday."
2023-10-18 - CHEK News: "Man builds 50th ‘little free library’ in Greater Victoria."
2023-10-16 - Victoria Buzz: "‘Little library extraordinaire’: Victoria man builds 50th Little Free Library."
2023-10-16 - The Williams Lake Tribune: "B.C. park gets remarkable 50th Little Free Library built by music professor."
2023-10-16 - Saanich News: "Colwood gets remarkable 50th Little Free Library built by Saanich professor."
2023-07-31 - Victoria Buzz: "‘Coral reefs for community’: 700th Little Free Library opens in Vic West."
2023-07-31 - Capital Daily: "Local book lovers celebrate 700th little free library."
2023-07-31 - CHEK News: "‘They’re about community’: CRD’s 700th little free library opens."
2023-07-31 - Victoria Now: "Ribbon cut on 700th Little Free Library in Greater Victoria."
2023-07-25 - Victoria News: "700th Little Free Library to open in Vic West."
2023-06-08 - Victoria News: "Book for young readers Up for Grabs in Victoria neighbourhood lending libraries."
2023-06-01 - Yam Magazine: "25 Reason to Love Victoria."
2023-04-19 - VictoriaNow: "Check out these incredible 'Free Little Libraries' in Victoria."
2023-03-04 - Goldstream News Gazette: "Teen author distributes book on Victoria-based choir empowering those with dementia."
2023-02-22 - GVPL: "Voices in Motion choristers serenade local little free library."

2022

2022-12-05 - Victoria Now: "Whimsical and unique 'Free Little Libraries' in Victoria."
2022-11-21 - Lookout: "Admiral’s ‘Little’ gift follows big tradition."
2022-11-20 - Victoria News: "Victoria-based furniture store designs little free library for Saanich elementary school."
2022-11-12 - Victoria News: "Sidney residents beam during opening of newest free little library."
2022-10-30 - Dallas Gislason: "It’s Time to Love Our Cities Again — (Greater Victoria edition)."
2022-10-23 - CHEK News: "Vital People: Greater Victoria now has more than 650 little free libraries."
2022-09-26 - Times Colonist: "Little Free Library project adds 650th, shows no signs of slowing."
2022-09-25 - CHEK News: "650th little free library opens in CRD."
2022-09-24 - CTV News: "79-year-old B.C. choir conductor constructs 'little libraries' to donate to others."
2022-09-22 - VictoriaBuzz: "75,000th book delivered to the little free library network in Greater Victoria."
2022-09-14 - GVPN: "75,000 Books and Counting!"
2022-08-26 - Victoria Now: "Whimsical and unique 'Little Free Libraries' in Victoria."
2022-07-25 - Lookout: "A little library is now open at the Lookout." (p.4).
2022-07-15 - CHEK News: "Victoria man crafts little libraries that replicate neighbouring buildings."
2022-07-10 - Victoria Literacy Connection: "Book Bash! Champion for Literacy - Teale Phelps Bondaroff."
2022-07-00 - James Bay Beacon: "Little Book Nooks."
2022-06-28 - VictoriaBuzz: "‘Absolutely adorable’: This little library in James Bay replicates its neighbouring heritage home."
2022-06-16 - Saanich News: "Bingo’s back at little free libraries across Greater Victoria – with prizes."
2022-06-14 - CTV News Vancouver Island: "Little Free Libraries in Greater Victoria in the spotlight with bingo game."
2022-06-13 - VictoriaBuzz: "Bingo cards are back at Little Free libraries across Victoria."
2022-06-13 - GVPN: "Play Little Free Library Bingo."
2022-05-24 - Times Colonist: "Jack Knox: Little free libraries a reminder of grassroots goodness."
2022-04-27 - GVPN: "Our Amazing Placemakers, an interview with Sharon Lam."
2022-04-25 - Saanich News: "Saanich author donates trailer load of children’s books to little free libraries across CRD."
2022-04-01 - Amazing Places Podcast: "S2 #13 Books On Bowker w/ Sidney Hurst."
2022-03-27 - Saanich News: "Student shares love of literacy with Oak Bay library project."
2022-03-23 - Victoria Buzz: "Oak Bay Grade 12 student installs CRD’s 600th little free library over the weekend."
2022-03-22 - GVPN: "Oak Bay High Student Builds 600th Little Free Library in the CRD!"
2022-03-18 - Amazing Places Podcast: "S2 #11 Community Hubs and Coral Reefs w/ Teale Phelps Bondaroff."

2021

2021-12-07 - GVPN: "Hello Little Free Library Friends: Getting involved in the local little free library community."
2021-12-06 - NewToBC: "Little Free Libraries in Greater Victoria brings people near and far together."
2021-11-27 - GVPN: "Delivering the 50,000th book of the Pocket Places Project!"
2021-11-17 - Falaise Community Association: "Fostering Safe and Connected Communities with Placemaking."
2021-11-15 - The Switch: "Placemaking and Little Free Libraries."
2021-10-13 - The Discourse: "Langford little free pantry is ‘a coral reef for community.’
2021-10-10 - Times Colonist: "Our Community: Fundraising provides little libraries with truth and reconciliation books."
2021-09-12 - Saanich News: "Pollinators, Pokemon come together in Greater Victoria’s latest little library."
2021-08-23 - British Columbia Magazine: "Little Free Libraries."
2021-08-17 - CHEK News: "First Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action Book Delivered to a Little Free Library by Murray Rankin."
2021-08-17 - Times Colonist: "Working on reconciliation, one free little library at a time."
2021-08-17 - CFAX: "Truth and Reconciliation Books Delivered to Local Little Free Libraries."
2021-08-01 - Times Colonist: "Our Community: 500th little free library."
2021-07-26 - VictoriaBuzz: "Little Free Libraries take off in Victoria as 500th library installed."
2021-07-25 - CHEK News: "500th Little Free Library in the CRD."
2021-07-25 - Saanich News: "Fantasy-themed Little Free Library in Saanich marks Greater Victoria’s 500th fixture."
2021-07-23 - CFAX: "Burnside-Gorge Welcomes 500th Little Library to Greater Victoria."
2021-07-06 - Victoria News: "Greater Victoria group delivering reconciliation materials to Little Free Libraries."
2021-06-25 - VictoriaBuzz: "15 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend, June 26th-27th."
2021-06-24 - Book Riot: "Are little free libraries better in wealthy neighborhoods?"
2021-06-01 - VictoriaBuzz: "Victoria’s Little Free Libraries launch their very own Bingo game."
2021-05-30 - CBC News: "Little Free Libraries launch book bingo game across Victoria."
2021-05-26 - Gaming Post: "How Bingo Is Fostering A Love For Reading."
2021-05-25 - On the Islands, CBC: "Book Bingo - find out how you can play bingo while exploring miniature libraries in Victoria."
2021-05-23 - Times Colonist: "Visitors to the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network’s Little Free Libraries in the CRD can now turn it into a game of bingo."
2021-05-21 - Peninsula News Review: "Greater Victoria book bingo game launched by Little Free Library operators."
2021-05-20 - GVPN: "Under the “B”… it’s Little Free Library Bingo!"
2021-05-05 - GVPN: "Planet Earth Poetry celebrates National Poetry Month with book deliveries to little free libraries."
2021-04-28 - CFAX 1070: "Greater Victoria's 'Little Free Libraries.'"
2021-04-25 - CHEK News: "450th LFL in Victoria."
2021-02-17 - Times Colonist: "Little free libraries like 'coral reefs for community.'"
2021-01-15 - CHEK News: "CHEK Upside: ‘Boats on a Roof’ marks major milestone for Little Free Libraries in Greater Victoria."
2021-01-15 - CFAX 1070: "400th Little Free Library Built in Greater Victoria."
2021-01-13 - Victoria Buzz: "400th Little Free Library installed in Greater Victoria."

2020

2020-12-12 - Capital Daily: "Canada’s biggest community of little free libraries has only grown stronger through COVID-19."
2020-10-04 - CHEK News: "Little Free Libraries in Greater Victoria brings people near and far together."
2020-09-24 - Yam Magazine: "Find 350+ Little Free Libraries in Victoria B.C."
2020-09-13 - Times Colonist: "Region has its 350th little free library."
2020-09-10 - Victoria Buzz: "Greater Victoria now has 350 Little Free Libraries installed throughout the region."
2020-09-06 - Victoria News: "Victoria housing company donates books to local little free libraries."
2020-08-26 - Times Colonist: "The art of bookkeeping: Tracking what comes and goes at a little library in Fernwood."
2020-06-03 - Times Colonist: "300th little library puts Victoria on the map."
2020-05-29 - CTV News: "Sawatsky Sign-Off: Little Library Love."
2020-05-28 - Peninsula News Review: "Victoria’s latest little free library comes with its own benches, lighting."
2020-04-22 - Victoria News: "Little libraries stock chalk across Greater Victoria to spread positive messages."
2020-04-20 - Radio Victoria: "Project #ChalkYourWalkYYJ."
2020-03-31 - Book Riot: "Little free libraries turning into little free pantries amid COVID-19."
2020-01-27 - GVPN: "Langford’s Newest Little Free Library."
2020-01-22 - Victoria News: "Literacy global phenomenon lands in Sooke."

2019

2019-12-29 - Times Colonist: "$52,945 in grants going to Victoria neighbourhood projects."
2019-09-25 - Times Colonist: "Capital region marks 256 little libraries."
2019-09-21 - GVPN: "Victoria Little Free Library Picnic."
2019-09-19 - CFAX 1070: "This month the CRD's 250th Little Free Library was installed."
2019-09-18 - Victoria News: "250th Free Little Library installed in Victoria."
2019-07-13 - Saanich News: "10,000th book delivered to Little Free Libraries in Greater Victoria."
2019-07-08 - Radio Canada: "10 000 livres offerts gratuitement à Victoria."
2019-07-01 - GVPN: "Little Free Libraries and Canada Day!"
2019-03-08 - Victoria Buzz: "Here’s how you can find some of Victoria’s 200+ little free libraries."
2019-01-13 - GVPN: "Teale’s Tips for Managing Your Little Free Library."

2018

2018-12-16 - GVPN: "New Little Free Library on Lewis Street Matches Neighbourhood Charm!"
2018-10-14 - Times Colonist: "Our Community: Little library marks 200, and growing."
2018-10-04 - Victoria News: "Victoria boasts highest density of little free libraries in Canada."
2018-09-01 - Goldstream News Gazette: "Little free libraries popping up in the West Shore."
2018-08-00 - Island Tides: "Island Tides Street Libraries."
2018-08-18 - Peninsula News Review: "Victoria’s little free libraries get 5,000th book."
2018-07-30 - GVPN: "4 Ways to Photograph Little Free Libraries."
2018-07-29 - GVPN: "Little Free Library Walking Tour of Fernwood."
2018-07-12 - GVPN: "Helping Set Up a Little Free Library in the Spirit Garden."
2018-05-13 - Victoria News: "Resident wants Saanich to curb changes to boulevard bylaw."

2017

2017-12-18 - Victoria News: "Greater Victoria Opens its 150th Little Free Library."
2017-11-08 - The Tyee: "Building Community Through Little Free Libraries."
2017-11-07 - GVPN: "Building great communities with pocket places."
2017-07-31 - GVPN: "Little Free Libraries (LFLs) grow into Pocket Places."
2017-05-19 - GVPN: "Your own Little Free Library – where to start."
2017-05-09 - Saanich Voice Online: "150 free libraries in the Capital Region."