Little Library Life in Fredericton

By Daniel S. Burton

Little Free Library (LFL) is a nonprofit organization where communities can “take a book, [and] share a book” from cozy mailbox-like public bookshelves. In Fredericton, some people create their own Little Libraries attached to their lawns or houses to promote community reading and the sharing of books.

Over the course of this article, I have experienced first-hand the heart-touching nature of Little Libraries.

I found four Little Libraries near the University of New Brunswick Fredericton campus: one Little Free Library, one memorial public library, and two Little Libraries courtesy of Fredericton citizens. 

If you want to hunt down Little Libraries yourself, use littlefreelibrary.org (A Little Free Library World Map) or visit the locations listed in this article!

Library 1: The first Little Library I found was completely by accident while heading toward Library 2. What a testament to the growing population of public bookcases! Library 1 was located on 18 Shore Street behind Narula’s Convenience and Indian Kitchen. The library I happened upon was the R.M. Vaughan. Vaughan was a writer, playwright and poet from Saint John, New Brunswick, a UNB alumni and later a writer-in-residence. Vaughan passed in 2020. Soon after, this publicly owned Little Library was created, and has drawn frequent visitors since! 

Library 2: The second Little Library was listed on LFL World Map under the name Julia Stewart, located at 653 Charlotte Street. I came to learn Julia Stewart was a beloved and awarded library director in Fredericton, who sadly passed away on November 16, 2024. Her Little Library still remains, ringing with her lifelong love for libraries. 

Library 3: This — unrecorded — Little Library was found on the way to Library 4 on the lawn of 360 University Avenue. Little Library 3 was the homiest of them all, built with seemingly home-cut wood and trunk with just enough room to slot in books. 

Library 4: The final bookshelf was a Little Free Library at 430 University Avenue. The biggest of them all, this library was sturdy with thick, safe glass, and had a QR code for the @littlelibraryonuniversity Instagram account! This account features updates on the “Little Yellow Library” by a book-loving family of Little Free Library stewards, charter 77707. 

It is fair to say Fredericton’s Little Library scene is booming! Explore your neighbourhoods or venture off UNB campus to take a book and share a book with the community!