GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - The Little Free Library is a gift to the De Rust community from the local educational non-profit organisation, Youth Potential South Africa (Youpsa), that created the library in partnership with the village antique shop, Mengelmoeskardoes.
This initiative makes the sharing of books easy, brings people together and grows communities.
Youpsa is challenging other towns in the Southern Cape and Karoo to follow suit by creating their very own Little Free Library in each and every community and suburb.
"This Little Free Library belongs to the whole community," says Alexis Salaman, co-founder of Youpsa. "I am sure this will bring much joy, more connection and cohesion, as well as a whole lot more books to our community."
Little Free Library is a global movement and these neighbourhood book exchange cabinets number more than 100 000 around the world, in 85 countries.
The De Rust Little Free Library is only the sixth in South Africa, and the very first in the Klein Karoo.
Youpsa's other co-founder, Ray Schöne, designed and built the LFL cupboard himself, using recycled wood. Schöne is also one of Group Editors' Local Heroes.
How it works
Located in the courtyard of Mengelmoeskardoes at 29 Schoeman Street, the Little Free Library is open during business hours, for everyone to use and enjoy. If you see a book that you would like to read, you take it home and when done reading, pass it on to a friend, or return it. These books are always for free and never for re-sale.
People are encouraged to add a book or more for others to take and enjoy.
The library in De Rust contains a wide selection of topics, for all ages, in Afrikaans and English.
The new Little Free Library at Mengelmoeskardoes in De Rust.
For the love of reading
This is the most recent project of Youpsa in De Rust. Youpsa offers weekly literacy and after-school enrichment programmes for disadvantaged children in the De Rust area. On the farms and in the township they run many popular reading and literacy initiatives to introduce children and youth to books and inspire a love of reading.
"Since we opened this Little Free Library in town, the response has been tremendous," says Schöne.
Mengelmoeskardoes owner Piet Smit says people just love the innovative concept and feel really drawn towards it.
"We love to make visitors to our village feel at home. People can stop in to browse and take a book while here. The shop also has a cosy outside area to relax, read, exchange books and socialise. It is a wonderful addition to the other tourist attractions in and around our beautiful town."
For more information, contact Little Free Library De Rust steward Alexis Salaman on 076 123 3832 or info@youpsa.org.
For more about the global Little Free Library movement click here.
Ray Schöne, co-founder of Youpsa and one of Group Editors' Local Heroes, built the cabinet that houses the Little Free Library in De Rust.
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