Canada's "Smallest" Library, Cardigan, Prince Edwards Island, Canada

Cardigan, Prince Edward Island, is a small seaside town that looks like Cape Cod did one or two generations ago. It is home to Canada’s smallest library. This is an actual working library, not to be confused with the wonderful Little Free Libraries, where people exchange books. This library has set hours, a table, and chairs, and Dewey Decimal is king. The collection is small, yes, but it is well-curated and has the sections that avid library users would recognize. Travel, health, fiction, and others compete for the library’s limited shelf space. 

You can get your library card across the street at the Cardigan River Heritage Center. What you really get here, though, is the incredible view overlooking the tidal river that empties into the North Atlantic. And books. You get to read books. Free books. You can even take them home (but please, if you borrow a book, return it!). Library Land friends know how this library stuff works, even at Canada’s smallest library. 

This post was provided by Library Land friend Marco Kaltofen. If you’d like to share notes and photos from a library visit, please contact us at info@librarylandproject.org.