On ANZAC Day 2018, the Rotary Club of Boronia celebrated 50 years of service to the Boronia and surrounding community. To celebrate these years of service the Club commissioned the Diamond Creek Men’s Shed (run by ex-Club member Leigh Marshall), to build two Little Street Libraries to place in Alchester Village and Boronia Mall.
The first of these was launched in front of the Koko Lime Café on 6th September 2018 by students of Boronia Heights Primary School, City of Knox Mayor, John Mortimore and Rotary Club of Boronia President, Annette Haworth.
The Library was decorated by the students of Boronia Heights Primary School under the tutorage of Art Teacher Tara Henstock. The theme for the students’ art program this year is painting in the style of French artist Henri Matisse; accordingly, the Library has been decorated in this style.
Registered with the Street Library Organisation of Australia (www.streetlibrary.org.au), Street Libraries are popping up all over Australia in streets, front gardens, shopping centres, old phone booths, encouraging people to put down their phones and “TAKE a Book, GIVE a Book, SHARE a Book”. The Alchester Village Library has been initially stocked by donations from Rotary members and their friends, school libraries and donations from Book Publishers. The project encourages community members to take a book to read and replace it with one for someone else to enjoy. This is the way that these libraries eventually sustain themselves. Thanks to the support from the owners and staff of Koko Lime Café, the Library will be rolled out and available for use during hours that the café is open.
The second Little Street Library is currently being decorated by students from St Joseph’s Primary School in Boronia and, when complete, will be placed in the Boronia Mall.
For more information on the project, and perhaps to donate some books, please contact the Rotary Club of Boronia on 0448 743 335 or contact@rotaryboronia.org.au.
