Newmarket resident heartbroken after community library vandalized

'The vandalism in the last five years literally makes it so I won’t go out at night," resident says, weighs end of community library project

Newmarkettoday.ca
April 6, 2023
Joseph Quigley

The community offers plenty of support for Newmarket resident Lori Robbins' Little Free Library, with someone even placing a rock with an encouraging message -- "keep going” -- next to it.

Vandals used the same rock to smash the glass on the post structure she uses to house the books, offered for free to anyone who wants them. The incident of vandalism over the weekend has Robbins weighing putting an end to the 10-year initiative permanently.

“It’s not offensive to anybody. It’s just a little library for the community,” she said, adding that the use of the rock “makes it even sadder ... It’s just like, what do you do?”

She posted about the incident on social media April 3, with video surveillance footage. Two individuals had approached the structure outside her home during the night, with the camera unable to make out their faces. They hit the structure and fled after breaking the glass and the top of a weather vane affixed to the structure. The weather vane itself was custom made, depicting a girl reading a book meant to represent Robbins herself.

The Little Free Library project offers free books to the community, and is also a place to leave books for others in the community to enjoy. Robbins said it is a tremendous success, with the community always willing to provide whatever books she thinks the library needs. It was particularly popular at the height of the pandemic, she added, with regular library access more limited.

But it is the third time in five years that the library has been vandalized and the second year in a row. Robbins said it is a problem in her neighbourhood impacting more than just her library. Her home is on Queen Street, just off Main Street.

“I’ve lived here since 1972. This is my childhood home, and the vandalism in the last five years literally makes it so I won’t go out at night,” she said.

The camera angle made if difficult to identify the suspects. Robbins said she showed the footage to York Regional Police, and although she received a kind response, police said they could not take further action without clear footage.

Spending more on surveillance cameras or other security measures does not sit well with her, she said, adding anything in reach of vandals could also be damaged.

“There is nothing I can do to stop the vandalism, and there is no recourse,” she said.

NewmarketToday contacted York Regional Police and did not receive a reply to a request for comment before the publication deadline. The story will be updated when a response is received.

Many residents who read Robbins' social media post were upset by the news about the damage and possible end to the library. Supporters suggested ideas such as more security or using a wagon instead that could be taken in at night.

“As a book lover, my heart breaks for you,” one resident said on social media. “Some people just get pleasure from destroying wonderful things, and they truly suck ... Whatever you choose, thank you for the books you shared.”

There is another library structure ready to go, bought by her kids after she experienced vandalism last year. Robbins planned to paint it before putting it in place.

But the vandalism makes Robbins worried that it could become a bigger target.

“Slowly, our downtown core is becoming very unsafe to live in,” she said.

The community support has been amazing, she said. Although she is still weighing ending the project, she feels like she would be letting the vandals win.

The sense of community, of knowing your neighbour, has declined in recent years, she said. But the library has been one way to keep it alive.

“The interaction we’ve had with this library has been wonderful. If I ultimately do take it down, it really will break my heart. I’m hopeful we can come up with something,” she said, adding the community support “is the reason it’s still up now.”