When 68-year-old Margaret Hensley retired from teaching in Winnipeg, she thought her days of organizing classroom book drives were behind her. Instead, her quiet passion for reading grew into a national movement that’s now inspiring Canadians of all ages to reconnect with books. What began as a small neighborhood project has blossomed into a grassroots literacy initiative that’s changing communities from coast to coast.
In 2019, Hensley started a modest book exchange box outside her home—a wooden cabinet filled with donated novels and children’s stories. Within weeks, it became a local hub of activity. “I’d look out my window and see people stopping by on their walks,” she recalls. “Parents with kids, teenagers swapping paperbacks—it was magical.” Encouraged by the response, she began encouraging others to start their own.
Using her savings and the help of former students, Hensley founded the nonprofit 'Read Together Canada,' dedicated to building free community libraries in rural and urban neighborhoods. The concept was simple: donate books, share stories, and bring people together. Within a year, over 400 miniature libraries had popped up across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
Social media helped amplify the movement. Posts under the hashtag #ReadTogetherCanada began circulating online, showing communities decorating their libraries and hosting public reading events. By 2023, the initiative had reached every province, partnering with schools, seniors’ centers, and Indigenous communities. “Books are bridges,” Hensley often says. “They connect us even when we feel far apart.”
Her efforts have attracted national recognition. Last fall, Hensley was honored with the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal for her contribution to literacy and community building. The award ceremony, held in Ottawa, celebrated her as an example of how one person’s passion can spark systemic change. But Hensley insists she’s just a messenger. “It’s never been about me,” she says. “It’s about the readers who make it their own.”
Local educators say the impact has been profound. Teachers in northern communities report improved reading engagement among children who now have consistent access to books outside of school. Some schools have even integrated 'Read Together' boxes into their literacy curriculums, encouraging students to write short reviews and recommendations for other readers.
In Toronto, volunteer coordinator Jacob Lavoie helps manage the logistics of distributing donated books. “We get everything from classic novels to graphic memoirs,” he explains. “Every box tells the story of its community.” Lavoie, a former librarian, says the initiative has redefined how Canadians think about literacy—not as a skill, but as a shared experience.
Corporate and government partners have since joined the cause. Major publishers have donated unsold stock, while local governments provide small grants for weatherproof boxes and signage. Canada Post even joined the campaign last winter, offering free shipping for book donations sent to participating communities. The collaboration has turned a simple idea into a nationwide movement.
For many participants, the libraries have become gathering spaces that go far beyond books. On summer evenings, residents host storytelling circles, poetry readings, and children’s book swaps. The boxes have become tiny cultural centers—symbols of generosity and shared curiosity nestled between mailboxes and gardens.
Hensley’s initiative also highlights the enduring power of physical books in an increasingly digital world. “There’s something about holding a story in your hands,” she says. “It slows you down, makes you feel connected.” Her view resonates with many Canadians who see reading not just as a pastime, but as an act of mindfulness in an age of screens.
The success of Read Together Canada has inspired offshoots abroad, with similar programs starting in the U.S. and the U.K. Hensley receives letters from teachers and librarians around the world seeking advice on building their own networks. Each note, she says, reminds her of the magic that began with a single bookshelf on a Winnipeg sidewalk.
As she looks ahead, Hensley hopes to expand the project into northern and Indigenous communities where access to books remains limited. Her dream, she says, is simple but profound: “I want every child in Canada to be able to find a story waiting for them, right around the corner.” It’s a goal that, like her little libraries, continues to grow one reader at a time.