Connection on a bookshelf

A NEW community street library has been opened by a local resident keen to get more people in her neighbourhood reading.

Annie O’Neill has placed a new street library in Dickson Street, Bacchus Marsh, and said she hopes it inspires more people to build them.

“We used to live in Yarraville and moved here in 2020. There were lots of street libraries there, I found them useful because of lockdown,” she said.

“It became a bit of a thing. Because we couldn’t get to the library, the kids and I were using the street libraries instead.

“I think they’re really pretty. I have plans to paint it eventually, when I’ve got some more time.”

The community street library Ms O’Neill and her retired engineer father built is made mainly of recycled materials, and features books from a variety of genres.

“The idea was to grab the attention of kids walking home from school, and the elderly that can’t get to the library,” Ms O’Neill said.

“Since I put it up, I’ve met so many neighbours that I didn’t even know were there. So it’s started a bit of neighbourly chat.

“I put it up on social media when I was looking for donations of books to fill it…that went off. I got plenty of generous donations.

“The idea is to take one and bring one back. I think there’s only two in Darley and none in Bacchus Marsh…so I’m hoping more pop up around Moorabool.”

The street library Ms O’Neill built isn’t yet registered, but once it is, it’ll pop up on the national map of street libraries accessible at streetlibrary.org.au.