Build a Better ‘Hood!

Many of the Fibre Library boxes have been supported by grant funding. If you are interested in applying for some funding to support building a fibre library in your neighbourhood, there is no reason to start from scratch as we are happy to share some descriptors and budgets used by previous successful grant applicants. You will need to re-work these to match your own project needs, but we hope it can serve as a starting point.

 

Fibre Library Description Samples:

Fibre Libraries, like their little book library counterpart, is a grassroots initiative where anyone can build and/or host a little neighbourhood box where fibre art materials are shared in a ‘take what you need, give what you can’ basis. If you live in the Vancouver area, you’ve more than likely seen community library boxes on street corners or front lawns. The concept is simple: take a book, leave a book. Why not do the same with yarn?

Fibre Libraries are a great way to connect with the community and provide free opportunities to try some new crafts. Not to mention, it’s a great Upcycling initiative to pass on yarns, rather than throw them away or go unused.

BE SURE TO ADD WHY THIS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU!

 

Fibre Library Budget Samples:

Expenses	Amount	Funder
Material to build library; Or amount to purchase finished library	$400	Grant request
Materials/labor to erect library at final location (wooden post)	$50	Grant request
Ziplock bags to weather-proof donations	$35	Grant request
Labels for donation	$15	Grant request
Signage for library	$25	Funded by local business/Baaad Annas
Yarn and fibre art materials to fill library	$25	Funded by local business/Baaad Annas
Additional support of fibre art materials top-up	$25	Funded by local business/Baaad Annas
TOTAL	$575
Amount requested in grant application	$500

 

Sample Small Grants Application:

(Please edit to fit your project/neighbourhood need)

 

PART3: Details about your project

 

What is the name of your project? Please use an easy title that you can remember.

Fibre Sharing Library

 

Please describe your project with as much detail as possible. In this section tell us about your idea and vision.

Together, Hastings Sunrise community members and Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store intend to collaborate to create a fibre art materials sharing library to help connect community members, allow for more accessible fibre art supplies, share skills and reduce fibre/textile waste helping the City of Vancouver’s (CoV) reach it’s Greenest City Action target of Zero Waste.

Similar to the book sharing libraries seen across the City of Vancouver, encouraging community members to upcycle and to “take a book, and leave a book” this fibre sharing library will do the same encouraging people to leave fibre art supplies and resources they no longer wish to use in the library, and take some supplies as well!

Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store, a popular Hasting Sunrise community retailer has a very successful Yarn Upcycling program. They receive donations of unloved or unused yarn (must be pest-free) from the community, and they sort it into Yarn sets for craft groups that work on larger projects, Mid-sized yarns best for knit clubs, Odds and end that go to classrooms for kids to play with string, or to fulfill yarn donation requests as frequently as possible. The Fibre Sharing Library will be an extension of this program, and allow the upcycling program to be made available to a larger amount of people- the community at large, as opposed to just Baaad Anna’s network of customers and partners. It will also allow for a greater reach, in that it will not just be for yarn but all textiles, and will include learning resources and tools. This initiative will thus allow community members to upcycle, reduce, reuse and recycle material, instead of throwing it away and having it end up in the landfill. This particularly helps the CoV get closer to it’s goal of zero waste. Although this project will have an environmental impact by encouraging upcycling/recycling of material, it will also aim to provide the community greater access to fibre and general art supplies, resources and material. Whether you want to try something new, and are unsure if you want to invest in fibre art material, or you have economic barriers preventing you from purchasing material and tools for arts and crafts in general the fibre sharing library will allow the community access to fibres, art supplies and textiles free of monetary costs, and only ask that something be left in exchange (if and when possible).

By providing greater inclusion and access to material we also hope that the community will begin to share and learn new skills surrounding various fibre arts, which has become increasingly important during these isolating times. Within the library, community members will be encouraged to leave tools, learning material, and resources. Further more, part of the funding requested will also be used towards buying several books, and creating resources that will be put in the library to encourage community members to learn a new skill, or try a new pattern/design. Materials will include books on how to knit, crochet, weave, quilt, macramé, etc. Artists within the community will be approached, and encouraged to share any instructional material they may have in print, or patterns they would like to share. To conclude, this program will not only help the CoV Greenest City action plan, by reducing waste but it will also foster community connections and learning through the arts, while remaining social distanced and safe!

 

When will your project and/or event take place? Include the month, day, and year.

The project is currently being planned, with a flexible timeline based on funding. If the group receives funding for the fibre sharing library, funds will be used to buy materials for the construction of the structure. Estimated date of building would be early June, install late mid-late June, and earlier if funding is received before this timeline.

 

Where will your project and/or event take place?

Once the structure is built, it will be installed in a community member’s front lawn in Hastings Sunrise. A few community members have offered their yard for the structure, which is fantastic and the group is currently in the processes of deciding which location would be best for foot traffic, etc. There would be no to-face interactions.

 

Approximately how many people will participate or directly benefit from your project?

51-100 people

 

How will you promote the project and reach out to and/or include people in the community? Give as many details as possible.

Using Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store’s network/community of followers on social media. Reaching out to Hastings Sunrise Business Improvement Association to have them promote the project. It will be seen on the street so will hopefully attract people passing by.