Category Archives: Arts & Culture

Column: Little libraries, big connections — a story of books and belonging

On a chilly winter’s day in Regina, Sask., bundled up in four layers, I happened upon my very first Little Free Library.

It was shortly after moving to Canada, and while I had heard about these charming book exchanges, this was my first real encounter.

The library was a striking red wooden structure, beautifully crafted. I stood there for a moment, admiring it, and took a photo, though I didn’t take any books since I had none to leave behind. Despite the harsh weather making it difficult to carry a book, this encounter marked the beginning of my journey into the world of Little Free Libraries.

When I left Kabul, Afghanistan, I had to leave behind many of my books.

I asked my mother to try and save them, even though no one else in our family shared my interest in reading. My father, who had passed away, was the one who had nurtured my love for literature. He had preserved a large box of books through the harsh years of Kabul’s civil war. When the conflict intensified, we moved from the city to the countryside. My father packed some of his books in a box along with other necessities, and they found a corner in our new refuge in Paghman, Kabul.

In those turbulent times, possessing books was a mark of bravery, as they were often destroyed by radical groups who viewed literacy as a threat.

My father’s wooden and leather book box seemed like a treasure to me, and I was always looking for a chance to explore its contents. He appeared reluctant to let us approach the box, possibly because he thought I was too young for those books or because it might contain personal items.

Nonetheless, whenever I could, I would open the box and immerse myself in the Afghan and Iranian magazines from the royal era.

One book, in particular, fascinated me — it was filled with animal pictures and stories from my father’s school days. That book was a stark contrast to our schoolbooks, which had been revised under the influence of Jihadi groups to reflect their ideological perspective.

My father’s book collection played a significant role in cultivating my love for reading and my interest in collecting books.

When I lived in Kabul, the only public library we had was small, with a collection of old books and an old-fashioned system, and the atmosphere was quite dull.

After moving to Canada, I explored many public libraries and joined several. I also became a huge fan of little free libraries, and now I always explore them whenever I spot one while driving around B.C.

Little Free Libraries are miniature, self-standing book exchanges designed to offer free books to the community. Typically placed in public areas, their purpose is to promote literacy, inspire a love for reading, and foster community connections through the exchange of books. Since they were first introduced in 2009, these libraries have grown into a worldwide movement, with more than 150,000 registered locations in more than 100 countries.

There are so many little libraries throughout B.C. that I can’t say exactly how many exist.

In New Westminster, where I reside, they are quite numerous. In the Sapperton neighbourhood, where I take my morning walks, I’ve counted five within a 2 km distance. I’ve noticed two on Richmond Street, one on East Columbia Street, one on Cumberland Street, and one more on Nootka Street. These are just the ones I’ve encountered during my daily walks.

Outside of Sapperton, I usually check out the Red House Library on Fourth Avenue; there’s another one further down the same street.

I regularly donate and take books from them. One of my go-to libraries is on Sixth Street. It’s always filled with fresh titles — fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, and more — every day.

I’m not sure how long it’s been there, but it’s the most vibrant Little Free Library I’ve seen. Being in a bustling spot, it gets a lot of visitors, especially those grabbing coffee from Starbucks or Tim Hortons nearby.

At Little Free Libraries, there’s often an opportunity to connect with others and start a conversation. On one occasion, while I was browsing the books, a woman asked me for a book recommendation. The only one I was familiar with was The Kite Runner, which was published after 9/11. I mentioned that it’s a story from my home country but wasn’t sure if it would be a good recommendation for her. She responded, “Oh, Afghanistan! I’ve read that.” That exchange led to a meaningful connection and a great friendship.

While taking another walk in Queensborough, I came across another beautiful Little Free Library. I found and took a book titled Daughter of Destiny, an autobiography by Benazir Bhutto, the first female Prime Minister in the Islamic world.

I posted about that library in a community group on Facebook, which led to a big discussion. Many people commented, some asking for the exact location so they could donate books. Federica Tiano said, “So adorable, this is one of the things I love about living in Canada. We don’t have anything like this in Italy.” Tatiana Sharapova mentioned that her husband had built the library.

Little Free Libraries have played a significant role in helping me find my place in Canada.

From that first encounter in Regina to my daily walks in New Westminster, these libraries have been a constant source of comfort and connection.

They are not just places to exchange books; they are spaces where stories from different cultures converge, allowing us to share pieces of ourselves with others.

In these exchanges, I’ve found a community that values the same things I do — literacy, connection, and the simple joy of a good book.

– Fahim Rasa, New Westminster

Printers Row Lit Fest is ‘like a family reunion’ for authors and book fans

Thousands of book lovers converged at the 39th annual Printers Row Lit Fest on Saturday, buying books and engaging with their favorite writers while authors exchanged ideas and reconnected.Friends and poets Natalie Staples and Kira Tucker already had several books in hand coming into the festival.They had come to meet their “Britney Spears,” former National Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy K. Smith.Staples, who teaches at the Chicago Academy for the Arts in West Town, uses Smith’s “Wade In the Water” for some of her classes — and now has a signed copy to do so.

Natalie Staples shows off a signed copy of “Such Color” by Tracy K. Smith at Printers Row Lit Fest on Saturday.Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times

“I felt like I was meeting a president or Britney Spears,” Staples said moments after meeting Smith. “That was amazing, I’m still kind of processing it all. … She’s the poet I want to be.”Tucker said the festival also served as a meeting ground for writers of all levels, and in turn, a place to bounce ideas off each other and take inspiration from each other’s work.“Hearing what new artistic projects other artists and authors are up to brings me inspiration and fuels my own brainstorm for my own work,” Tucker said. “It’s almost like a family reunion in a way because I get to see so many writers I know or people whose work I admire and catch up with those I haven’t seen in a while.”Some said they would be returning Sunday to attend a panel featuring author Faylita Hicks.Staples said the fest inspires hope for those who have seen the literary arts get defunded in some educational institutions.“Especially when it feels like funding is flying out the doors in a lot of places, we need community and places to gather,” Staples said.

Kira Tucker (left) and Natalie Staples attend Printers Row Lit Fest on Saturday.Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times

Corey Hall, a veteran of the Near South Planning Board’s festival, has attended the event every year since 2009.He’s also an English professor at Kennedy-King College and the creator of “Expressions from Englewood” — a collection of personal essays, poems and other written work from his students about their experiences in the neighborhood.Hall spoke about the nine books on his table with encyclopedic knowledge, remembering which stories were written by students who have gone on to become nurses and pursue other professions, though he said he’s always excited to help them add “published author” to their resumés.“You got the grade, how about getting published?” he said he tells his students who are surprised at his offer to get them published.Hall said he funds the project through the book series’ sales — and his credit card — to ensure that budget cuts for extracurricular activities aren’t a barrier for his authors.He has a background in journalism, and he said he wanted to help uplift the voices of those in the neighborhood that usually get drowned out by crime coverage.“Ninety-nine times out of 100, if Englewood comes up, you know what they’re going to say,” Hall said. “And there are stories about violence, it happens everywhere. … It’s just to give a different view of Englewood, not to put blinders on anything. There are a lot of good people and good stories from this community.”Hall said the “Expressions from Englewood” series’ 10th book will be published by the end of January. A website is also in the works.

Corey Hall (center) speaks to customers at his table at Printers Row Lit Fest on Saturday. Hall teaches at Kennedy-King College and puts together the book series “Expressions from Englewood,” collecting writings from his students about their experiences living in the neighborhood.Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times

Near Hall’s table, Jenine Snyder and partner John Pollard strolled through the festival with Snyder’s sister and nephews.Pollard, a first-time attendee, said he was looking forward to attending the “Defending Free Inquiry on Campus” panel Sunday night, as well as some others that relate to the history doctoral dissertation he’s writing at Northwestern. Another event features local author Rebecca Makkai, who has written about Chicago during the AIDS epidemic. She is slated to discuss Crystal Hana Kim’s novel “The Stone Home.” Snyder said she attends most years, usually gravitating toward romance novels, and had already picked up a book for her dad by midday Saturday. She said it’s easy to find what she’s looking for when surrounded by literature and the people who create it.“I feel like you find books you wouldn’t otherwise just by chatting with the authors,” Snyder said. “We’re gonna have to walk back around without the [kids] to look at the boring grown-up books.”Printers Row Lit Fest continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on South Dearborn Street between Ida B. Wells Drive and Polk Street.

People from across the Chicago area came to browse books, listen to authors speak and meet new people at Printer’s Row Lit Fest, on South Dearborn between Ida B. Wells Drive and Polk Street on Saturday.Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times

The bad with book banning: Author to discuss topic in Columbus

In July of 2022, Amanda Jones gave a short speech opposing book censorship at a public library board meeting in her little hometown of Watson, in southern Louisiana. And then her life changed radically.Jones had, at that point, been first an English teacher and then a school librarian for 22 years at the same middle school she had attended as a child. She was also president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians.But after the public library board meeting, she immediately became the target of death threats and a social-media hate campaign by two well-funded “keyboard warriors” who accused her of “grooming” children and advocating the inclusion of explicit pornography in school libraries.Review:Generations of folk-rock dynasty collide in Seltzer’s debut novelMany of her friends, neighbors and colleagues, convinced by the campaign or simply frightened by it, abandoned her as a result.Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.For anyone wondering just what she said at this meeting, Jones has included in her fierce, chilling memoir a copy of her measured, thoughtful speech.Alternately anxious and furious, she decided to sue her attackers for defamation of character and set up a GoFundMe to cover her expenses. Though she lost the case initially on the grounds that she was a “public figure,” her appeals are ongoing.“Hell hath no fury like a librarian scorned,” she writes, only half joking.She is clearly loyal to her town, where she grew up attending Sunday School at the Baptist church she still attends, and “hung around the gravel pit” with her friends on Friday nights as a teenager.But she also realizes that her community, which has become “redder and redder” over the past decade, tends to dismiss those who are not straight white Christians — and willing to ban books that feature themes or characters who don’t fit neatly into those categories.Review:Nicola Yoon’s novel, ‘One of Our Kind,’ brings light to race, class in Los AngelesAs someone who works with middle school students, she is particularly concerned with those who identify as LGBTQ, categories many in the community would like to see disappear.She also points out the dangers of “soft censorship,” in which librarians do not purchase potentially controversial books out of fear of reprisal.She doesn’t hide behind the mask of saintly hero: She can be snarky and vindictive, despite her best intentions, and she doesn’t conceal the pain she felt over being ostracized.“My blood pressure soared, I had several panic attacks, and I started losing chunks of my hair,” she wrote.She relied on therapy, prayer and anxiety medication to get through it.She also relied on support from librarians around the country, as well as from her former students. Besides telling her own story, she tells those of other librarians fighting the same fight against censorship around the country.In addition to being a memoir, the book offers plenty of advice on how those inside and outside library and school systems can fight book banning on a local level.Jones’ book will make anyone who thinks, “It can’t happen here,” think [email protected] At a glanceJones will appear in conversation with Amelia Robinson at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Bexley Public Library, 2411 E. Main St., Bexley.Admission is free, but registration is required. More information can be found at bexleylibrary.org.

How to create a PCS memory book

Every PCS move is a new chapter in your military spouse adventure. With a personalized PCS memory book, you can turn each move into a beautiful keepsake. Capture the friendships, adventures, and memorable moments that make each duty station unforgettable. Your journey is unique, and your memory book should be too.

Designing Your Story: Make Your PCS Memory Book Truly Yours

A PCS memory book is more than just a scrapbook. It’s a way to celebrate your family’s journey through military life. Start by choosing a theme that reflects your family’s personality. Maybe you love a classic travel style or something more modern and sleek. Whatever you choose, let it be a reflection of you and your experiences.

Think beyond photos. Add maps of the places you’ve lived, ticket stubs from special events on base, or menus from your favorite local restaurants. These little details make your memory book rich with your life’s stories. Remember, this book is about capturing the spirit of each place you’ve called home, not about being perfect.

Capture the Everyday Joy: Moments Big and Small

Military life is filled with big and small moments that make up your story. It’s not just the significant events that matter; it’s the everyday joys, too. Snap pictures of your kids playing in the new backyard, your first trip to the commissary, or the cozy corner of your new home where you have your morning coffee. These moments make your memory book come alive, reminding you of the happiness in each new place.

Remember to include messages from friends and neighbors who have shared in your journey. Ask them to write farewell notes or share their favorite memories with you. These personal touches turn your memory book into a heartwarming narrative of the connections you’ve made along the way.

From Goodbyes to New Beginnings: Cherish Every Step

Myriam Caldwell, left, a 35th Force Support Squadron family care provider, hugs U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Williams, right, a 35th Medical Support Squadron aerospace medical technician, and her son, Kaiden, center, at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 25, 2018. After seven years of friendship, Caldwell describes Williams as a hard working mother and an ideal Airman. (Courtesy photo)

Every PCS move is a mix of goodbyes and new beginnings. Use your memory book to honor these moments. Dedicate a section to each farewell, remembering what made that duty station special. Then, create a space for the excitement of your new home. Make a list of things you want to explore at your next post, and leave room to add photos as you check them off.

Your memory book is not just about looking back; it’s about celebrating the future. With each new page, you capture the essence of military life—full of changes and endless opportunities.

Make It a Family Affair: Create Together

Making a PCS memory book can be a fun project for the whole family. Let your kids draw their favorite memories, write about their experiences, or decorate pages with stickers. You can also involve them in choosing the book’s theme or layout. This makes the memory book even more special and helps everyone feel excited about the move.

If you love technology, think about going digital. There are great online platforms like Shutterfly, Mixbook, or Blurb where you can create beautiful photo books with your own captions and layouts. Whether you choose to go digital or stick to the classic hands-on approach, making your memory book together can become a cherished family tradition.

Preserve Your Journey: A Keepsake for the Future

Your PCS memory book is more than just a collection of memories. It’s a way to celebrate your journey as a military spouse. Years from now, you’ll look through its pages and relive the places, people, and moments that shaped your life. It’s a gift to yourself and your family—a way to keep your story alive for future generations.

As you prepare for your next PCS, start gathering the photos, mementos, and memories that will fill your book. With each turn of the page, you’ll feel the pride and joy of being a military spouse.

A PCS memory book isn’t just a project; it’s a celebration of your journey, a way to embrace the adventure, and a keepsake that will hold the essence of your military life long after the moves are done.