Street Library comes to Port Macquarie

It’s simple to get on board – just take a book from the Street Library on Swift, and pass it on when you have finished with it or return the book for someone else to enjoy.

If you can’t bear to part with the book, keep it and bring back another book in its place.

Street Library, a registered charity, started in Sydney in 2015 and has been growing ever since.

Port Macquarie resident Kate Jones read about the Street Library movement and was sold on the idea.

The Street Library on Swift, which has a children’s book focus, is the result.

It can be found out the front of 39 Swift Street.

Miss Jones hopes the Street Library on Swift promotes literacy, enjoyment of books, community connections and the pay it forward theme.

“I absolutely love it,” she said about the finished product.

Miss Jones said there had been a great community response.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council mayor Peter Besseling officially opened the Street Library on Swift on October 5.

“It’s great to see community spirit alive and well in Port Macquarie,” he said.

“It brings the community together in the construction of it, in the use of it and just provides for a more connected society, particularly with the focus on children’s books.”

Miss Jones approached her neighbour David Baker with the idea.

Mr Baker researched the options, took the idea to his friend Col Besseling and construction of the street library followed.

“It is creating a lot of interest from people walking past,” Mr Baker said.

Miss Jones initially stocked the library.

She is seeking children’s book donations to create a stockpile from which to rotate the books on offer.

All books contributed will be marked with a special stamp.

Sydneysider Nic Lowe founded Street Library from a vision which stemmed from wanting to build an Australian-based free library movement to encourage literacy and community.