Enjoying a good read

 

Location: Osler Street north of Dupont

Date photo taken: 7 December 2022

I have a fascination with little box libraries. I think they're a brilliant idea and I love that they exist. They encompass so many things I value. Books of course, but also re-use, neighbourliness and creativity. I love that the owner of this rustic-looking library thought to include windows, which frame images of people enjoying a good book. If you get up close enough, you can even read over their shoulder.

To find your closest library, you can check out the map on the Little Free Library website. Keep in mind that it only lists boxes which have officially registered with them, which costs money, so if you don't see one close by, don't despair. Get out and take a look - there may be an awesome unlisted box in a neighbour's yard near you.

Little Free Library

Location: 123 Woodfield Road
Date photo taken: 12 April 2015

This is a Little Free Library sitting in the front yard of 123 Woodfield Road. Normally on this blog if I post something that is sitting in a person's yard, I don't publish the address. In this case however the whole point of these boxes is for the community to use them. The idea is simple, and it's spelled out on the little sign on the roof: Take a Book. Return a Book. From the first box built by a man in Wisconsin for his own yard in 2009, the idea has snowballed. As of 2016, there were over 50,000 Little Free Libraries in over 70 countries, including over 100 in Toronto. If you're interested in hosting your own free library, you can buy one pre-made or download plans to build your own from the Little Free Library website. If you just want to browse someone else's collection, they also have a map to help you find the one nearest you.

Note: I think this library may have grown since I took this picture. Can anyone confirm if it's now two-storeys tall?

Carp

Location: Railway underpass on Queen St. E. near Degrassi

Date photo taken: 5 January 2017

If this panel looks familiar, it may be that you are remembering the cute little fox featured a few weeks ago. Both are part of the Frames of Life mural. I'm drawn to this panel because it's not often that you come across realistic representations of fish around the city, which seems unfair. It is much more likely that someone living in Toronto will encounter a real live fish than they will a moose after all. The City of Toronto website has a page dedicated to fishing in the city which includes a list of some of the best places to fish, such as the Toronto Islands, Grenadier Pond in High Park and the Rouge and Humber River marshes. It's legal to fish on public land anywhere along the lake, but if you're between 18 and 64, you need to have a provincially issued fishing licence. Want to give it a try but don't have any equipment? No problem! Tackle Share is a program started by The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters that allows new anglers to borrow a rod, reel and tackle to try out the sport. There are currently 5 locations in Toronto where Tackle Share is available, including the Ralph Thornton Centre, which is just down the street from this mural.