For more than twelve years, the vision of the Christopher Cutler Memorial Little Library has remained unchanged. When it was established in 2014, the goal was simple: to create a barrier-free opportunity for children, youth, parents, and community members to discover the joy of reading and to build their own personal book collections.
Unlike many traditional little libraries, the Christopher Cutler Little Library was never intended to be a book exchange. Its purpose is to ensure that every child and family has access to books regardless of financial circumstances. Community members are encouraged to take a book home, read it together as a family, enjoy the experience of literacy, and keep the book as part of their own growing collection.
The Rotary Club of Hamilton has proudly funded and maintained this community resource since its inception. Through partnerships with the Hamilton Public Library and First Book Canada, along with generous donations from community members, more than 20,000 books have been placed into the Little Library over the past twelve years. Those books have found new homes throughout the community, helping to foster literacy, learning, and a lifelong love of reading.
The concept has always been straightforward: remove barriers to literacy, provide free access to books, encourage reading at home, and support families in creating their own personal libraries.
The Rotary Club of Hamilton has been engaged in discussions with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB)regarding concerns that have they have raised about the Little Library. We recognize and take seriously concerns related to safety, as well as the appropriateness of books with respect to reading levels and content. The Rotary Club of Hamilton does not condone hate literature, inappropriate materials, or any misuse of the Little Library.
It is important to note that throughout the twelve-year history of the Little Library, only two concerns regarding specific books have been formally brought to our attention by the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, most recently in January 2026 involving two books.
In response to concerns raised by the Board, the Rotary Club of Hamilton developed and presented a comprehensive strategy document that included:
• A formal partnership agreement;
• Enhanced liability and informational signage;
• Environmental and safety improvements around the site;
• The creation of a review process involving teachers, staff, students, parents, and community members to evaluate books before they are placed in the Little Library.
During our meeting with Board representatives in June, the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board advised that, after reviewing our proposals, they saw only two possible options.
The first option was to relocate the Little Library inside the school office, where books could be reviewed by staff and students would be required to visit the office to access them. While we appreciate the consideration of this option, it does not align with the vision of the Little Library. Such a move would eliminate open community access and restrict availability to school hours only. Community members would lose access during evenings, weekends, holidays, and throughout the summer months—times when literacy opportunities and access to books are especially important.
The second option presented was the complete removal and relocation of the Little Library from school property.
While we are disappointed by this outcome, the Rotary Club of Hamilton remains firmly committed to the vision that has guided this project since 2014. We believe that barrier-free access to books is an essential community resource and an effective way to encourage literacy among children, youth, and families.
The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board has requested that the Little Library be removed from the property before September 1, 2026. In response, the Rotary Club of Hamilton is actively working with community partners, stakeholders, and supporters to identify a new location where the Christopher Cutler Memorial Little Library can continue to serve the community.
Our goal is to have a new home secured by September so that this beloved literacy initiative can continue providing free access to books in a safe, welcoming, and accessible environment. The little library will continue to be filled with books till late summer.
The Rotary Club of Hamilton greatly values its longstanding partnership with Cathy Wever Elementary School and the HWDSB and remains committed to supporting the students, families, and broader school community. Our relationship extends far beyond the Christopher Cutler Little Library and includes a wide range of literacy and community initiatives that have benefited local children for many years. Through programs such as the Rotary Children’s Christmas Celebration, we provide a meal and a new book to every student at the school, serving more than 650 children annually. We also ensure that every child receives an additional book through our school book fair initiatives, helping to build personal home libraries and encourage a lifelong love of reading. Students and families also have access to the Rotary Summer Literacy Program, a free two-week literacy camp that supports reading, learning, and enrichment during the summer months and the financial literacy programs offered by Junior Achievement. The Rotary Club of Hamilton looks forward to continuing these valued partnerships and programs while working together to create opportunities that help children succeed and thrive.
The Rotary Club of Hamilton remains proud of the impact the Christopher Cutler Memorial Little Library has had over the past twelve years. More importantly, we remain committed to ensuring that children and families in our community continue to have access to books, opportunities to read together, and the chance to develop a lifelong love of literacy.