KINBURN – Just in time for your summer reading list, the Kinburn Little Library is open for business.

Kinburn’s Mary Porritt opened the Kinburn Little Library Saturday (May 23), and it is open to anyone to come by pick out a new-to-you book or leave an old favourite behind at no cost – just like a library.

Porritt told West Carleton Online her neighbour’s granddaughter deposited the first book in the library’s brand-new history the same day it opened.

“It was a retirement project of mine,” Porritt told West Carleton Online Saturday. “I retired from the Ottawa Public Library, West Carleton branches a year and a half ago.  My partner Geoff Wonnacott helped build it. He helped a lot, ha-ha.”

West Carleton Township closed the Kinburn branch of the library shortly after Porritt moved to the area in 1988.

“Kinburn kids have to travel to Fitzroy or Carp to get a book to read,” Porritt said. “I opened the Kinburn Little Library to help promote the love of reading for pleasure and to support literacy.  The library is for everyone. Take a book, leave a book are the basic instructions. I am not in charge of the collection of books, only the Kinburn Little Library.”

Porritt says the Kinburn Little library is made of recycled materials, and “we are recycling books too.” 

“I really hope that the community will enjoy sharing books with each other,” Porritt said.

You can find the Kinburn Little Library in downtown Kinburn at 3107 Kinburn Side Road between the bank and Kinburn Farm Supply.