Out with the old and in with the used: old Vancouver news boxes turned into free libraries

“Eleven re-modeled news boxes have been placed around downtown Vancouver where you can pick up, exchange or donate free books.”

Simon Fraser University

“It’s out with the old and in with the used.

Old news boxes, previously used to carry free 24 Hours newspapers, have been re-modeled and spread around downtown Vancouver to act as a “middlemen” to exchange books for free.

The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) began a joint project with SFU three months back to turn these little rusted and abandoned boxes as “Free Little Libraries” where people can take, borrow or donate used books.

“This particular company just left them on the street abandoned,” Charles Gauthier, CEO for DVBIA, said. “The only other option would have been for the city of Vancouver to come and pick them up and dispose of them.””