Langton’s Little Library created to offer books for everyone to enjoy

By Care Lucas

Mary Anne Kersten, a resident of Langton, was out with her grandchild when she had an idea. Like many Ontarians, she had noticed the little free libraries popping up in nearby communities—Tillsonburg, Walsingham, and Simcoe, to name a few.

“Every time we went for a walk, I saw [one], and I said, ‘Langton doesn’t have anything…we need one of these,’” she said, adding that there was no nearby library branch. Kersten pitched her idea to the Catholic Women’s League (CWL). They agreed to sponsor it.

“We hired a carpenter,” she said. “Then, one lady said ‘Oh, I can make that.’” That woman was Mayline Metsetaar. Metsetaar constructed the little library with material supplied by local farmers. They added plexiglass for the library’s door and a fresh coat of paint with a message that read, “Read, Return, Repeat.” The results were outstanding—Langton’s Little Library was born.

Every little library needs a central location that provides easy access to its community. So Phil Verhegghe of Verhegghe Insurance offered up his property. His office is located on Highway 59 directly across from the Langton Food Market.

The Little Library currently towers over a bank of ice-covered snow. But Verhegghe believes the library will draw a lot of traffic during the summer months when residents are out enjoying the sunshine.

Verhegghe said the decision to offer space to the project was easy as it’s an important addition to the community. “Hopefully people keep on reading,” he said.

He hasn’t seen anyone exchange books yet, but Kersten said she’s noticed a few books have been dropped off, so it’s clear residents are already starting to use it. Kersten oversees the collection of books, making sure it’s fully stocked and in order.

“I’ve been gathering books for the last year and some people have donated some,” she said. The Norfolk County Public Library has also offered to provide some of its discontinued books.

Kersten said the little library is an alternative for those who are less mobile and may not be able to get to the public libraries in Port Rowan or Tillsonburg. She said some elderly residents in the community are already enjoying the little library.

But she also thinks it’s valuable for young families. She mentioned how expensive books have become. Kersten believes the little library can make reading more exciting. She said her grandson Nicholas has enjoyed making the little library a part of his routine. “He just loves it, and he picks his book out, and he’s so happy he’s got a different one to read.”

The books are available to community members of all ages, with a variety of genres. “We have cooking. We have mystery. We have romance,” Kersten said. “You just take a book. If you don’t bring it back, it’s okay. If you do, that’s great!”

Originally printed in The Good News, March 2025.