Love for reading found in a streetside box

Baw Baw Shire Council, in collaboration with the Drouin Men's Shed, has installed new book boxes in Drouin, Longwarry and Warragul, providing families with free access to more books.

The book boxes serve as miniature libraries and are part of the Paint Baw Baw REaD Project, helping to make literacy more accessible to the community and encourage reading and learning at all stages of early life.

Rebuilt to better withstand the weather and vandalism, to last longer and be more visually appealing for young eyes, the boxes hold a collection of books suitable for children from birth to 12-years-old. Using the book boxes is easy and supports a lifelong love of books.

Anyone can visit the boxes, take a book, and either return it when finished or replace it with another book they think someone else might enjoy.

Mayor Kate Wilson said the program had been welcomed in the community.

"The 'take a book, leave a book' philosophy not only promotes literacy development, but it also helps families to connect.

"The excitement of walking down to the local book box and discovering what they can find is a wonderful way to ignite that love of reading in our little ones."
The latest book boxes can be found at:

Warragul, out the front of Frankies on the corner of Palmerston and Victoria Sts; Drouin, at Bellbird Park and at 40 Princes Way in the seating area near Nick's Bakery and 3818 Café; and Longwarry at Memorial Park.

Council has commissioned more community book boxes which are waiting to be installed.

Council want to hear form community members about where they should be located. Go to Books galore in Baw Baw to let council know.