Strand literary gem: Post box restored from rust to reading riches

Driven by a deep love for people and prose, Strand couple Leslie and Sanette Thiart dreamed of sharing the magic of reading with fellow book lovers along the stunning promenade.

With Leslie’s engineering expertise transforming concepts into captivating reality, the passionate pair spotted an opportunity to rescue a neglected, decay-damaged post box in Melkbaai Street and breathed new life into it.

“My motto has always been to ‘make a difference’,” Sanette said. “The post box invited us to repurpose it into something special, and it went from rust to riches.”

This Strand landmark has now become an innovative way of boosting and expanding the culture of reading in the Helderberg. The couple has turned it into a street library, a facility for people to deposit books they have read, and take others they have not – an ongoing, revolving source of literary appreciation in the area.

Relaying this passion project with an enthusiasm that was infectious, this spirited 62-year-old said the idea for it had burst forth on Mandela Day (18 July) last year. It was a spark ignited by Lisa Starr, the dynamic driver behind the Helderberg Ocean Awareness Movement (Hoam), who wrote of possibilities for this unused post box on social media.

This inspired the Thiarts to take it further, reaching out to the media to propel the precious project into action and into well-deserved prominence. Distinguished local journalist Julian Jansen started the ball rolling by seeing the well-known landmark as a fitting refuge for several titles from his own collection.

The old letterbox is now suitably repurposed and serves as a fully-functional street library. Of this nascent literary treasure Sanette said: “We live in Melkbaai Street and walked past the post box every day on our way to the beach. It was a good beacon to direct visitors to our home, yet it was in a sad state of repair, no longer red and quite an eyesore. We decided to do something about it. We started by disinfecting it, scraping and treating it for rust and then it was repainted red. Then we came up with the idea to repurpose it by turning it into a street library accessible to all. In this way we could make a difference in our immediate environment. As we had recently relocated to Strand, it was also an opportunity to integrate into the local community quickly and easily.”

What’s more, she said, the post box’s location on the corner of Melkbaai Street and Beach Road, with its constant stream of curious passersby was unique; many naturally pause to peek on their promenade perambles. It’s just minutes from the Thiarts’ doorstep, so they easily monitor, maintain and replenish the book collection at will or when necessary.

‘Take one, donate one’

Sanette drew from her own diverse collection and relied on generous donations from neighbours and friends. The library operates on a simple “take one, donate one” principle, a self-regulating system powered by community spirit. Beachgoers and holidaymakers without any space in their bags for packing that fat novel along with their sunscreen and beach paraphernalis can rely on generously-stocked shelves. Each donated item receives protective treatment: a “Street Library Strand, Not for resale” stamp prevents bookshops from converting community treasures into profit, while every volume gets a charming handmade bookmark, ensuring readers depart with both a story and a special keepsake.

While harbouring hopeful hearts, the couple remained realistic about their community initiative, with their greatest wish being that neighbours would welcome the literary gift without misusing or vandalising the treasure.

Though occasional “clean-outs” initially disheartened them, the overwhelming response has brought boundless joy.

“One morning I saw a young homeless guy sitting on a bench reading a novel and decided to have a chat with him,” Sanette said. “He had just relocated to Strand and decided to sit and read when he saw the library. He said to me, ‘Baie dankie, tannie. Ek sal die boek terugbring as ek hom klaar gelees het.’”

Bookworms can look out for a QR-code on the inside of the street library door that can be scanned should they be interested in becoming a Friend of the Street Library.