Power of books brings together northeast Calgary community

Punjabi and Urdu books sit alongside Canadian classics like Anne of Green Gables on a table at the side of a residential street in the community of Saddle Ridge.

Along with a neat row of whitewashed mini-library boxes and a few comfy chairs, it's become a gathering place in the community.

The community library is bringing together people of all nationalities, faiths, sexes and ages in Saddle Ridge who can grab a new read or stop and chat a while.

"I have nothing, no funding, we are a team and we want to work in the community, we want to do something for the community, because I love my community," said Syed Najam with the Love With Humanity Association the small grassroots non-profit that came up with the idea.

"Social gathering is important, especially in the summer time. We have books for newcomers, all languages, for those who are coming from different countries, free of cost," said Ajam, who was once a newcomer himself, arriving in Canada from Pakistan in 2009.

He says they've received support from Calgary Reads along with Ted Harrison School, and boxes of donated books of all languages keep flowing from the community.

"I came here for the first time and saw all these people with different backgrounds from different countries and with kids and ladies as well," said Malik Ashraf.

"I didn't know many people but today I came and met so many new people here," Ashraf added.

"The libraries are always the cornerstones of communities," said Sudhir Bhanot, who lives nearby. "Books are always a good friend of a person."

"It's very good for the elders or the children who can't afford to go to public libraries because of the transportation. They can sit together, there are chairs here and we have a lake nearby so they can go sit by the lake and read," said Bhanot.

"The people will come, talk together. It will create a good harmony within the community," he added.

Syed Najam says he wants to open another five libraries in other communities including Redstone and Skyview Ranch, as well as in the southeast.

He says, for him, it's all about spreading the love across the northeast.

"This is my step, you can also take a step, take care of your neighbours, spread the love everywhere," said Najam.

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