The small doors of the Tiny Library are open for a second summer, promoting summertime reading to area children. Based out of a Queen Street playhouse, the Tiny Library is a dream come true not only for young readers, but also for owner Trudy Burton.
When Burton’s granddaughter outgrew her playhouse, Burton saw the perfect opportunity for a library.
“I’ve always wanted to open a library,” Burton said. “I’ve always worked in and volunteered in libraries ever since high school.”
With a handmade playhouse and no one to play in it, Burton says the library was the perfect solution.
“I just thought, ‘Here it is. Here’s my tiny library,’” said Burton, who is grandmother to Olivia, 10, and Milan Fernandes, 7.
Burton used Facebook’s Post It and Flin Flon Traders Post pages in search of books to be donated to the library.
And her requests were answered. “I’ve got more books than I can display,” she laughed.
With an estimated 300 books inside the Tiny Library, Burton has boxes filled with reading material that has yet to be displayed.
The Tiny Library not only offers reading material for area children, but also her grandchildren.
In as few words as possible, both Olivia and Milan agreed The Tiny Library was a “cool” thing to have in their grandparent’s backyard.
Milan has a few books to return to the Flin Flon Public Library, but is excited to browse the shelves of his grandmother’s library this summer.
Olivia has already got her summer reading started with two borrowed books so far.
The passion Burton has for the Tiny Library has begun to trickle down to both Olivia and Milan.
“I have a whole box of books under my bed,” Olivia said.
“Well, maybe we should check out the books and get them in the [library],” said Burton.
Excited to add to the conversation, Milan said he “has lots of books I already know and don’t read anymore.”
Burton had two goals she hopes to achieve with the Tiny Library.
“I want to have kids on this side of town to have access to books,” she said. Perhaps more importantly, Burton says she hopes her grandchildren learn a valuable lesson.
“I want to teach these two…children that not all kids have what they have. They can go anywhere and buy a book…but not all kids have what they have.”
Burton says children have come to browse the books without a book in hand to exchange it for. “And that’s what I’m trying to teach them – that not all kids have what they have,” she said. “So, now those kids have a book they can trade when they come back next time.”
As the shelves continue to fill up, Burton says she will weed through the books and discard books that may be torn or in poor condition.
Burton currently has more books than her shelves can hold, but says she will gladly accept donations.
“They don’t just bring one, they bring a whole box,” Burton laughed.
People interested in making a donation can drop off books at 331 Queen Street. The Tiny Library is open from 11 am to 4 pm during the week.
“I will keep doing it as long as there is still interest in it,” said Burton. “It’s to keep the kids reading and to keep them interested in books during the summer.”
