A controversy is brewing in Hintonburg over a little library.
The little wooden structure is a free book exchange where people can take or bring a book to share.
Neighbours say that bylaw has ordered the shut down of the small pop-up library at Oxford and Pinehurst after a complaint was made.
"I have to say it's super disappointing that one complaint from a neighbour can result in the loss of a really great community building initiative," said Vicky Smallman, a resident of the area and community activist. "This was the first little free library in our neighbourhood. Now others have popped up and my concern is that if one can be lost because of one complaint, what precedent does this set for all the other free libraries in the city or any other innovative community building initiative that people try to engage in?"
Smallman said she couldn't understand who would complain about the box.
"It feels curmudgeonly to me," she said. "I can't presume to imagine what was in that particular person's mind. Maybe they have a bone to pick. Maybe it's a personal thing or maybe they have different standards for what should be in a yard."
The library appears to be on someone's lawn, but ward councillor Jeff Leiper said it's actually on city property and bylaw doesn't allow people to build things in the right of way.
Leiper said he supports little libraries and says he's working with bylaw to get an encroachment permit to save the book exchange
"I am confident that we will get this fixed and that the library will be saved," said Leiper. "Neither I, nor the city, nor residents, nor neighbours have any real interest in seeing this box come down."
In future, Leiper said he would like to see a special category created for little libraries to ensure they can continue to operate.