Bruce Johnson, secretary with South Okanagan Children’s Charity, and Patricia Tribe, with Communities for Kids and Success by 6, were both in Osoyoos Saturday for the grand opening of Little Libraries at Lions Park and the Osoyoos Splash Park. (Richard McGuire photo)
There’s a new library in town. Actually two of them.
The Osoyoos Free Little Libraries held a grand opening on Saturday at Lions Park for one of two “Little Libraries” that opened next to the playground.
The other one is at the Osoyoos Splash Park.
The “libraries” are little cupboards made by students at Osoyoos Secondary School that contain a small collection of children’s books.
“Families here in Osoyoos can come and take a book and read it with their kids here, on the bench, or take it home with them and return another book,” said Patricia Tribe.
Tribe is with Communities for Kids and Success By 6, the groups working with local volunteers to make these little libraries happen.
Also on hand for the opening was Bruce Johnson from the South Okanagan Children’s Charity, which contributed $3,000 as a grant to get the project started.
The ceremonial cake cutting was still happening when a short distance away a father picked up a book and began reading to his 14-month-old daughter.
Tribe said the books to start the project were donated by the Osoyoos Branch of Okanagan Regional Library, as well as by other people in Osoyoos.
“We will just keep replenishing the books as they come and go,” said Tribe.
Volunteers will drive by on a regular basis to ensure that the little libraries are still stocked, she said.
“Eventually, usually what happens with these little libraries is they’re self-perpetuating,” said Tribe. “People take a book, bring a book, and so it ends up just working on its very own.”
The concept, she said, is very popular and there are thousands of little libraries throughout Canada and the United States, including some in other parts of the Okanagan Valley.
Johnson said the South Okanagan Children’s Charity has been running for more than four decades. Originally its mandate was to help families with seriously ill children requiring extra funding. He’s a past president and is currently the group’s secretary.
The charity continues to assist with medical expenses and transportation for children, but it also now supports other projects for children.
Also at the event was the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen’s (RDOS) Physical Activity Trailer (PAT), bringing games and sports equipment for children to play with.
“The PAT trailer is a new trailer that is travelling around to all of the communities in the South Okanagan and Similkameen region,” said Tribe.
Although the sports equipment is geared to children, adults can also use some of it.
“It’s equipment that perhaps people wouldn’t normally have at home or be able to use,” said Tribe, showing lacrosse sticks, hula-hoops, balls and more.
PAT will go where people in the community request it, she said, adding that people can go onto the RDOS website (www.rdos.bc.ca) to book the trailer for community events.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
