A PASSION for books and literature has led to Christa Watkin launching the Little Free Library program in Nowra.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Based on the hugely popular Little Library Box, the concept provides a location where books can be swapped, recycled and shared for free.
Little Free Library is a nonprofit organisation that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world.
Through Little Free Libraries, millions of books are exchanged each year, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds.
Originally from Germany, Mrs Watkin witnessed the program first hand throughout Europe.
“I’ve seen big book boxes and free libraries everywhere - in every little town and village,” she said.
“It’s a way of building communities, a way of getting access to free books and recycling your own books, which is good for the environment.
“It also encourages reading.
“You can often pick up a book and think I wouldn’t have bought this but I’m interested in reading it and you can.”
Mrs Watkin has been working with Shoalhaven City Council to have a Little Free Library located in Nowra, with the first being opened in the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, opposite the cafe.
“We are hoping this is the first of many,” she said.
“I would love to see more around the Nowra CBD and even further throughout other local villages.
“At the moment we are saying ‘take a book, return a book’. But certainly if you have 10 books and would like to drop them off we would love to hear from you.
“My dream is to have a nice big, secure book box in Harry Sawkins Park.”
A similar project was previously established at the Thorough_F air, in the Nowra CBD between Berry Street and the Egans Lane car park, but it fell victim to vandals.
“That was very well frequented and I thought it was a shame to let it go, so wanted to resurrect it,” she said.
“It would be great to see something in Nowra similar to what is at the Wollongong Botanic Gardens.”
She hopes the concept might even bring people and their local communities closer together.
“The idea is to make Nowra a vibrant interesting place. My dream is to have book boxes in the CBD and perhaps eventually in residential streets, with residents taking ownership of it. They become proud of it and their community,” she said.
Little Free Library is a nonprofit organisation that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world.
“It encourages reading and literacy skills. In some cities in Germany there are specific book boxes just for children.”
She said reading books can take you on a journey.
“You get into different characters and you read about them and their lives and maybe suddenly you understand real people because they might be going through a similar thing,” she said.
Mrs Watkin’s love of books comes from her parents, who had “books everywhere”.
“They had large book shelves in every room, full of books,” she said.
“When I was young, before I could read and write, I would sit at a book shelf and look at all the books. In particular the letters on the back of the books. With a pencil I would try and copy the letters and write them down.
“It led to me studying English Literature. I just really enjoy literature and reading.
“My parents lived in Europe and when they passed away they had all these books. I had to get rid of all of them so I took them to all these free book boxes.”
Along with her husband Tony, Christa has a book sharing group that meets on the first Monday of each month at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre.
“We get together from 10am and have a book sharing morning tea,” she said.
“We grab a coffee, bring books, share them and meet new people.”