Little Lending Libraries are creating a sense of community on the Gold Coast, and adding one to your workplace is not only a great way to foster a better community within your organisation, but it also spreads the importance of accessible literature.

 Storyfest’s Little Lending Libraries have been taking over the Gold Coast, with colourful libraries popping up on every street corner. But their purpose goes way beyond the aesthetic – they are a way to foster community, to provide access to literature for everyone, and most importantly, to promote literacy in a place where readers are less likely to get the chance to connect than in bigger cities.

 However, these little libraries can be beneficial not just in your neighbourhood, but also at your organisation or place of work!

So why are Little Lending Libraries a great addition to any community – even workplaces?

1.   Little libraries promote literacy

First and most importantly of all, Little Lending Libraries promote reading and the significance of literature. At a time when technology is becoming ever more prevalent and when work is often conducted in offices, in front of computers, taking the time to step away from the constant stream of undiluted information and instead settle into one story is becoming increasingly important.

While statistically speaking Australians perform pretty well when it comes to rates of literacy (almost 7 out of 10 people report reading books regularly), these numbers decline in the age group generally devoted to full-time work, with lack of time being one of the reasons people don’t regularly pick up books. Imagine working for an organisation that has a little library on site! No more having to go out of your way to visit a library or a bookstore; all you need is a 5-minute break, and you could pick up a new title in-between important meetings.

 As such, little libraries promote the importance of literature, and by way of access, the power of reading about and learning new things.

 

2.   Little libraries are accessible

The advent of second-hand and independent bookstores across Australia has meant that people often know where to go to find reading material even when big chains are not available – however, it does not mean that they can afford it, too. One of the main barriers to reading is the cost of new books, which is no surprise when a book can cost up to $40.

That is exactly where little libraries come in – the ‘take one, leave one’ approach allows anyone to pick up a new book, without having to fork out a fortune every time. Accessible books within a workplace mean accessibility of literature, of knowledge, and of learning – aspects that benefit all employees and all workplaces in the long run. A Little Lending Library improves book access equally within a workplace.

So not only do little libraries encourage good reading habits, but by being positioned in your workplace, they easily facilitate them too!

3.   Little libraries foster a deeper workplace community

A Little Lending Library on the street corner will foster neighbourly relationships, while a Little Lending Library at an organisation will foster a deeper sense of workplace community. Instead of offering unnecessary benefits such as foosball tables and pizza parties (benefits that while they sound good, are not actually needed), investing in a little library will help the development of employee relationships centred around the past time of reading.

A little library does not discriminate – it will often contain a wide variety of books and genres, from fiction to nonfiction, sci-fi to self-help, even books potentially related to or helpful for work. As a result, even those who might otherwise only say a friendly hello to each other can share different reading experiences together. From a conversation starter to a sustained source of connection, little libraries can create a newfound sense of community within any workplace.

Find out more about Little Lending Libraries or get your own here.