Most bookworms have probably been told at least once or twice in their lifetime, “You could start your own library!” But it would be fair to say few actually do.
That is except for one Donaghcloney mum, who has brought endless adventure to her local community by repurposing a disused children’s playhouse into a vibrant community library right on her front doorstep.
Speaking to Armagh I, the new unofficial librarian, Victoria-Jane McCandless humbly explained that the inspiration for the library – known as D’Cloney Lil Library – actually came from her best friend Carla, who has for years been operating her own little library from a box in Portadown.
“Carla’s library has been going for about five years,” said Victoria-Jane. “She moved and the box moved with her but it’s always been a success. The two of us are in teamwork, we are best friends and we share each other’s stuff and she has just put a second box up because hers has got so busy as well.
“Mine also started off as a little box, like a dog box, and it’s been about three and a bit weeks and I now have five full bookcases out there and I’m about to go and lift another collection!”
As a big reader herself – and avid Steve Cavanagh fan – Victoria-Jane had a mountain of books at home and an “overflow” of bookcases. When she first installed her library box, she had the best intentions of just “swapping the books” between the box and her bookcases.
Until her husband came up with the brilliant idea to turn their son’s former playhouse into a “walk-in” library.
Together – with the help of two others – the McCandlesses disconnected the base of the house, screwed two “big massive planks of wood” into the sides and carried the little structure – in the pouring rain – to its new home at the pavement’s edge on Moygannon Road.
Once it had a fresh lick of paint and the bookcases installed, Victoria got to work filling the shelves… which she now says are “full to bursting”.
Posting the new walk-in library on her Facebook page, Victoria-Jane says she ended up in tears… moved by the kindness of those around her.
“Two people have reached out to me. One lady from Cabin Craft offered to fill my window boxes with beautiful, artificial flowers free of charge and another man from Mill Craft has offered to do signage and I cried when those messages came through because I wasn’t expecting anything.”
Enthused by the interest from others, Victoria-Jane has also invested in a personalised embosser which she sat up to midnight imprinting on the first page of all of her books.
She added: “This is not me saying I own these books, it’s more so that no matter where they end up there’s a wee reminder of where they came from.”
Adding to that sentiment, the library’s users have also added their own personal touch in a throwback to the traditional library system.
“People have even signed them with when they started reading and who they are and where they are and it all adds to the character of the book,” said Victoria-Jane.
Victoria-Jane has done her best to “categorise” the books, where possible, and while it’s not a flawless system, she says it has afforded her the chance to speak with visitors to the Lil’ Library and get to know her community on a more personal level.
A local Weight Watchers representative was even given the opportunity to drop off a few magazines in case anyone should want to take one with them.
Even in its infancy, the library is almost at full capacity, but not wanting to put anyone off making donations, Victoria-Jane says to keep them coming because between herself and Carla they can always ensure the books will be passed on for others to enjoy.
Said Victoria-Jane: “It’s a community library and it is for everyone else. At the end of the day this wouldn’t be possible without the donations. It is the public that have made this happen.”
