OSBORNE Park is set to get a pop of colour and added fun with several street libraries hitting the suburb.
Balcatta Men’s Shed members built the mini mobile libraries, which will be housed at four locations around central Osborne Park, for people to collect and drop off books.
Main Street Co-Op member Lauretta Davies suggested the idea and it has been backed by Osborne Library, which has donated books to stock the pop-up libraries.
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READ NOWSecretary Lyndsay Keys said the libraries were mobile so businesses could share responsibility for them but initially they would be at the Osborne Park Hotel, Main Street Compounding Pharmacy, Commonwealth Bank’s Osborne Park branch and permanently at Starbright Early Learning Centre.
“We hope that it encourages people to come down to Main Street and interact with their neighbours, local businesses and community,” she said.
“And we also hope that it will encourage our locals to put up their own street library.”
Artist Mikaela Miller is launching the initiative with a live painting of a library outside Commonwealth Bank on Friday, October 11.
People are encouraged to take along books to donate to the street libraries and watch Miller in action from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
Miller said she had researched native flowers related to Osborne Park but details of the painting would unfold on the day.
“We have so many species here in Perth that are so nuanced in their different varieties, and where or how they occur,” she said.
“I think (the libraries) are a great story-telling device and I hope it sparks a bit of joy, curiosity and whimsy to the local community.”
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