With its Pocket Places Project poised to place its 100,000th book in a local little free library, the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network is launching a competition to determine what title should earn the honour.

The project led by GVPL volunteer Teale Phelps Bondaroff, helps promote, map, build, and stock little free libraries (LFL) across Greater Victoria area. A volunteer with the GVPN, he works to celebrate milestones, coordinate book donations and pickups, and regularly cycles the region with a trailer full of books to top up the book boxes. To date, the project has delivered almost 100,000 books across the CRD, mapped out 845 of the little libraries and help build or set up more than 120 of them.

B次元官网网址淚 still remember how excited I was when I dropped off the 5,000th book in 2018 B次元官网网址� a vintage travel guide to Victoria. If you would have told me then that IB次元官网网址檇 be delivering our 100,000th book to a little free library six years later, I would not have believed you,B次元官网网址� Phelps Bondaroff said in a news release.

Little free libraries operate on the principle of B次元官网网址榣eave a book B次元官网网址� take a bookB次元官网网址�  and come in all shapes and sizes. A growing number also specialize in a certain type of book such as poetry, childrenB次元官网网址檚 books, French reads, as well as those sharing plants, seeds, toys, household items, board games, puzzles, art supplies, art, food, and more.

"The magic of little free libraries is that they function as a sort of catalyst, igniting other forms of placemaking that foster connections,B次元官网网址� GVPN volunteer Molly Rose said. B次元官网网址淥ne LFL near my apartment now has a chalk board and bench beside it. I've seen others with fairy gardens or toys for kids at their base. They start as LFLs, but it's hard to stop there once people see how frequently they are visited.B次元官网网址�

In a bid to place the right title for its 100,000th book, the placemaking network is opening up suggestions online at .

B次元官网网址淪electing the books for some of our milestones has been relatively easy. For example, Jules VernsB次元官网网址� Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas was an obvious choice for our 20,000th book, and I found a copy of a book about Warhammer 40K for our 40,000th book. For other milestones weB次元官网网址檝e celebrated and showcased local authors,B次元官网网址� said Phelps Bondaroff. B次元官网网址淲e wanted to do something extra special for our 100,000th book and I canB次元官网网址檛 wait to see peopleB次元官网网址檚 suggestions.B次元官网网址�

The winning book will be announced July 20 during a special event where the 100,000th book will be officially placed in a little free library.

Find the full map of all 845 libraries (or submit new ones) online at .