Old refrigerators turned into libraries on outskirts of Brasília

To turn old refrigerators into small libraries: that is the proposal of “Cool Ideas” project, launching the first book refrigerator this Saturday (Aug. 13) in Ceilândia, a town located about 30 km away from Brasilia. The goal is to encourage reading and improve knowledge in a simple and direct way, and free for the community. The project collects refrigerators and books, and also promotes cultural action including visual arts, music, and poetry.

In the community's libraries-refrigerators, residents can leave their books and get others to read and return them whenever they want. The book refrigerators work as a common library, but there is no need for records.

Graffiti artists and artists from the community where the library is installed produce their art on the refrigerators.

Project's creator, teacher Lucas Rafael, said the idea came from the need to encourage reading, especially among children. "As I realized that children had little access to reading, I decided to run the project to bring art and knowledge for these children and for the whole community."

Local action

The project, funded by the Cultural Fund (FAC), from Distrito Federal's Government, will launch book refrigerators in poorer towns around the region of Brasília.

For each 2016 edition, the book refrigerator project will organize cultural activities, with artists from the places where makeshift libraries will be installed. In this Saturday's edition, in Ceilândia, the “Cool ideas” project will organize local football and dodge ball macthes. There will also be poetry, music, and graffiti art by artist Israel Kolono, from Ceilândia. The programming also includes exchange fair and local groups' musical attractions, in addition to the Girls' Bazaar, which is already done for 5 years. It is a social and public event to exchange and share clothes, accessories, food, information, experience, art and craft. The bazaar, which used to have a fixed location, now follows the editions of Cool Ideas—Book Refrigerator project.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta