Free little library destroyed in Kitchener
A beloved little library in Kitchener’s Doon South neighbourhood is now in pieces.
Hugh Tran, who lives across the street from the yellow and orange structure at Thomas Slee Park, said he heard what sounded like an explosion late Tuesday night.
“I heard a really loud noise,” he told CTV News. “I was in my room, the windows were closed, but it was like a little bomb. I don’t know what happened. I looked out my window to see what’s going on, but I did not notice any fire.”
Waterloo Regional Police were called to the area around 1 a.m. Wednesday.
“Prior to police responding, a resident did put out the fire and that’s how we were able to determine that it may have been a small fire explosion,” said Const. Chris Iden.
Burned books and bits of woods still littered the ground the next morning.
Damaged books and bits of wood litter the ground after a free little library in Kitchener was destroyed. July 31, 2024. (Ashley Bacon/CTV News)
“How can somebody do this? It’s just crazy,” said Tran.
According to a social media post from the City of Kitchener, the little library was added to the park in 2019. It was a place where neighbours could donate or take used books, free of charge.
“It’s a family neighbourhood,” Tran explained. “Kids walk around the park, always people playing. I see kids come here, they exchange books and all that. I think it’s really cool.”
Officers were going door-to-door, looking to speak with witnesses, on Wednesday.
“It’s concerning because these [little libraries] are very helpful and they’re nice to have in communities,” said Iden. “Whenever something like this [happens], it’s obviously concerning to the community itself. That’s why we’re asking anyone with information to help us and contact us.”
Tran hopes it’s an isolated incident.
“It’s pretty sad to see something like this,” he said. “It’s a beautiful neighbourhood.”
Residents tell CTV News they already making plans to rebuild the little library.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7030020.1725828794!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
'Beautiful in its own way': New forest emerges in Jasper National Park, bringing protection and new opportunities
Charred stumps and the remains of fire-ravaged trees still cover large tracts of land on the Jasper landscape, but life is returning quickly down below.
Bloc Quebecois ready to extract gains for Quebec in exchange for supporting Liberals
The Bloc Québécois says its ready to wheel and deal with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's party for support during confidence votes now that the Liberal government's confidence and supply agreement with the NDP has ended.
Dog mauled to death in B.C. yard after 3 pit bulls jump fence: police
A 12-year-old collie was killed by three pit bulls in the B.C. Interior Sunday morning, according to authorities.
video ‘Not checking out yet’: Woman with incurable cancer vows to keep fighting
Heather Appleton just renewed her passport for another ten years. “I’m not checking out yet,” said Appleton, 61, who has the incurable cancer, Multiple Myeloma.
Trump threatens to jail adversaries in escalating rhetoric ahead of pivotal debate
With just days to go before his first and likely only debate against U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris, former U.S. president Donald Trump posted a warning on his social media site threatening to jail those “involved in unscrupulous behavior” this election, which he said would be under intense scrutiny.
'It's morally wrong': A rural Alberta town reacts to homeless shelter closure
At the end of a side street in Slave Lake, Alta., Lynn Bowes looks at a grey job-site trailer with boarded-up windows and doors that once operated as her town's only homeless shelter.
Over 200 firearms seized in weapons investigation: Waterloo Regional Police
According to police, during a traffic stop in Waterloo, officers noticed firearms and ammunition inside the vehicle.
Military surplus store in Calgary, destination of celebrity shoppers, closing doors
Cher, Anthony Hopkins, Heath Ledger, Alec Baldwin and Tom Hardy are just a few of the celebrities John Cumming met while growing up in his family's military surplus store.
Slide over salsa: K-pop takes socialist Cuba by storm
Socialist Cuba, the birthplace of salsa and other rhythms that have conquered the world, is now surrendering to the invasion of South Korean pop music.