Baw Baw Shire seeks books for community exchange

Victoria’s Baw Baw Shire is encouraging residents to donate children’s books to the community book boxes which are popping up across the shire as part of a broader push to promote reading. 

Made by Drouin Men’s Shed and uniquely decorated by local kindergarten students, two Paint Baw Baw REaD community book boxes have been created and housed in the Warragul central business district and at Drouin’s Bellbird Park, with five more on the way. 

The aim of the community book boxes is simple – promote literacy and support children’s love of books.Serving as miniature libraries, inside each box is a collection of books suitable for children aged zero to 12-years-old.

Simple to use, and operating on the premise of ‘take a book, leave a book,’ anyone can join in with the initiative, and can visit the boxes at any time. 

The Bellbird Park box was designed and decorated by the children of Adam Court Kindergarten, with Warragul Community Preschool creating the artwork for the box at the intersection of Palmerston and Victoria Sts.

Longwarry Kindergarten, Warragul Early Learning Centre and Oak Street Kindergarten students have submitted designs for the upcoming Longwarry, Warragul Civic Park and Drouin locations, local news source The Gazette shared.

Mary Beck Preschool will create artwork for the Neerim South box and Grace Berglund Kindergarten for the Eastern Park box.

Adults have not been left out of the fun, with the Street Library program operating six book boxes across West Gippsland.

To read the original coverage of this story please see here.