ManitobaThe town of Niverville is doing something familiar to those who’ve seen Little Free Library stands, which can be about the size of a birdhouse or mailbox, on neighbourhood yards. But instead of a handful of books, the library that held its grand opening Oct. 27 has received thousands.Manitoba town takes Little Free Library concept to the next level with thousands of donated storiesChristopher Gareau · CBC News · Posted: Oct 28, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesKristina Krahn and her four children at the new library in Niverville, Man., which had its grand opening on Monday, Oct. 27. (Chris Gareau/CBC)No membership card is required for Niverville’s first library.The town of over 6,000 is doing something familiar to those who have seen Little Free Library stands, which can be about the size of a birdhouse or mailbox, on neighbourhood yards.But instead of a handful of books, the Niverville library — which held its grand opening Monday — has received thousands of books from a community eager to open its new literary gathering space at the Centennial Arena.Mayor Myron Dyck says the new library was based on the “take-a-book, leave-a-book” model used in the little neighbourhood libraries.“Were there models that we looked at to say this could work? No, but it seemed [to be] the investment we were prepared to make,” said Dyck.Hauling a libraryA pickup truck full of books stored on a pallet in a municipal warehouse four years ago was the initial library catalogue.“I think really it started with a pretty large donation from my uncle,” said Niverville recreation and wellness director Warren Britton, who drove that truck.Then without any formal call for donations, Britton, now in charge of the library, was inundated with stacks of literature, reference tomes, home and garden books, and many cats with many hats. It was enough to bring the topic from the backburner to the forefront, with a new library becoming a municipal election issue three years ago. Council made it a priority, and Dyck says volunteers helped make the first step towards an official municipal library become a reality.“Instead of going and investing a lot of money, this can be done for very little money. Books are donated, volunteers’ time is donated, there’s no formal take-out policy where you’re checking a book out and risking getting a fine if you don’t bring it back in time,” explained Dyck.The library space, in the arena beside the Community and Recreation Centre built in 2021, is also bringing free programs that are seen in conventional libraries over from the centre.The lending library area started as a community gathering space in the form of a dance hall with a dirt floor nearly 60 years ago. It will now be a place to gather for book clubs, children’s programming and more.“So in some ways, it’s like a community centre with books,” said Dyck.Niverville Nighthawks hockey players read to young patrons of the town’s new library on Monday. (Chris Gareau/CBC)The first evening was busy with new readers eager to hear stories read by firefighters, local Niverville Nighthawk hockey players, and Mennonite history expert Ernest Braun.Seven-year-old George Krahn had his eye on one particular book full of fun facts, sharing his newfound knowledge on tastebuds.“Girls have more than boys,” beamed George.His mom, Kristina Krahn, was glad to see she now had a place to bring her four kids where they can get excited learning about themselves and leaving for magical lands far, far away.“It’s just nice to have something that’s no screens, that children can read and use their imaginations and get lost in a world of books,” said Krahn as her children were colouring and pulling books from the kids’ section.A Niverville firefighter hosts storytime during the grand opening of the town’s new library on Monday. (Chris Gareau/CBC)Regional library proposalNiverville is working with a group of about a dozen southeast Manitoba municipalities to potentially form one or more regional libraries.Some communities like Steinbach have libraries, some pay to be a part of another community’s libraries, and some like Niverville – before Monday — have no libraries at all.A consultant is set to bring a proposal to the group in the next few months, according to Britton.He said it’s been decades since such a large regionalization has been attempted in Manitoba, and there is nobody around from that time to help with the process.“So it’s been a lot of like starting right from the ground up,” explained Britton.ABOUT THE AUTHORChristopher Gareau is a CBC Manitoba reporter based in Steinbach who covers the province’s southeastern region. He has previously covered southeastern Manitoba in print, and worked in radio and print in northwestern B.C. and southwestern Ontario. You can reach him at christopher.gareau@cbc.ca.
Nivervilles first lending library runs on volunteers and trust
