Canada Reads brings tiny new libraries to P.E.I.

There will soon be five new tiny lending libraries in communities throughout P.E.I., thanks to a partnership between CBC and local community organizations.

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As part of Canada Reads, CBC P.E.I. has partnered with the PEI Public Library Service, Reading Town PEI and the PEI Literacy Allianceto bring five new little libraries to five communities throughout the Island.

It's wonderful. When the library's not open there can be books accessed. Kelly Cahill,Little Pond Brownie leader

People can take a book or leave one,any time of the day or night, without a library card.

The wooden boxes will go up inMontague,Souris, Tyne Valley and Charlottetown,and are currently being decorated bygroups in those communities.

CBC P.E.I. and Canada Reads paid to have them built, and for a set of this year's Canada Reads books for each of the libraries.

The Boys and Girls Club in Montague decided to go with a hand-print theme.

"I think it's great to get the club involved with the community, and to have the public able to have access to free books and bring in some of their own that they don't need anymore to share," saidclub staff member Angela Davis.

Members of theGirl Guides in the Souris area are decorating their library with flowers and butterflies.

Their members are working on a literacy challengeand decorating the little library was a nice complement, saidLittle Pond Brownie leader KellyCahill.

"It's wonderful. When the library's not open there can be books accessed. And let the girls see the importance of books and the availability of them," she said.

The Fox Club Society in Charlottetown is in the process of planning their little library design.

The society is a placewhere adults canlearnnew skills such as archery, food preserving or rockclimbing.

"I've seen them around town and it's just a really cute little idea to be able to have, just when you're going for a walk you see them," said societymember AshleyLeFort.

"Next time you bring a book with you, take one, leave one. It's also a way for us, again, to continue to get out in the community."

The 4-Hin Tyne Valley is taking on a little library too.

CBC is still looking for a group to decorate the library in Summerside.

An evening with Anita Rau Badami

Island Morning host Matt Rainnie willhostan evening with Canada Reads author Anita Rau Badamiat the Confederation Centre Library in Charlottetown at7 p.m. on March 10.

Badami will read from her second novel, The Hero's Walk,an intimate look at a troubled family.The book follows an Indian man who loses his daughter and her husband in a car crash, then takes in a seven-year-old Canadian granddaughter he has never met.

The audience at the event, which is free to the public,will also gettocheck out some of the little libraries.