Wander: A Community-Owned Library & Creative Space
The Dream
I’m dreaming of a space where 80-100 people each rent a shelf and fill it with books they love.
You walk in and every bookshelf tells you about a different person, group, or family - their curiosities, their comforts, the books that changed them. Some shelves might be all poetry. Some might be cookbooks from the 1970s. Some might be kids' books about space, teen romance, speculative fiction, graphic novels, or books about rewilding.
There’s a long communal table in the centre - the kind where a writer sits next to someone doing homework next to someone sketching next to someone reading. There are smaller writing and reading nooks dotted around, and a corner with soft cushions, toys and books where children can wander while their parents work nearby. There’s a Found Poetry Wall with magnetic words where anyone can build poems throughout the day. Plants. Books. Art. Gentle music. An outdoor courtyard. Good vibes.
In the kitchenette there’s tea and coffee you can make yourself, and a snack bar with simple, healthy fuel for creative work. There's an outdoor courtyard with fairy lights for evening gatherings. In addition to Words of a Feather programs and events hosted by other community members, once a month we could host Evening Pages - where the space stays open late with cheese and wine and quiet jazz, and people come to read or write or just sit with their thoughts in the company of others.
Kids can come after school for organised mentorships with local writers, or if they’re just stuck on homework or a creative project, they can ask the librarian. They will probably know someone currently there who could help. Organic connections like this could happen all the time, just by sharing and cultivating the space for it. Because this would be a third space - not home, not work or school - that other essential space you can 'come home' to, where ideas weave into conversation and spark action; where stories evolve; where community happens naturally.
Why This Model?
I’ve seen variations of this working overseas - spaces that prioritise people, creativity and stories, and operate by community, for community. Places where people tend the space together. Where people contribute to what they want to exist in the world, and gain so much more from it in return. Spaces that are sustainable by and for the people who use them, not dependent on grants, investors, or selling programs that don't align with their values.
After 15 years running Words of a Feather, I know what works and what doesn’t - at least for this creative, heart-led business. I know spaces matter. I’ve studied with and met leaders in organisations who are doing good AND functioning sustainably - you can do both! I’ve learned that community is stronger than individual effort.
Inspirations below (clockwise from top left): casual poet library, Singapore; Shakespeare & Co, Paris; 826 Valencia, San Fransisco; Recess Grove, New York
(images copyright to organisations linked above)
Community Ownership, Not Membership
This wouldn’t be a Words of a Feather space that you pay to enter, or work in. It would be a space we co-own, co-steward, and co-benefit from from the beginning. Where Words of a Feather is one of many communities, artists, writers and readers making a home here. Where I’m not the boss - I’m one of many building something together.
What you’d get as a shelf-owner:
Your own shelf to curate (fill it with whatever books matter to you)
Unlimited access to the space (come and go as you please)
First access to paid librarian shifts (you could earn back your shelf rental fee in a few hours/month)
A voice in how we build and grow (Shelf-Owner Council makes decisions together)
Ability to host your programs and events (book launches, workshops, readings, study groups)
Knowledge that this exists in the world because of your contribution
The chance to live your dream of being a librarian/bookshop/creative community space owner without having to make it all happen yourself
This space would be built together through a community of shelf owners (co-librarians) where you’ll have a real voice in decisions - from opening hours to event programming to how we grow.
What I Need to Know
Spaces like this exist because communities decide they need to. Not because one person wills it into being, but because enough people say “Yes, this matters.”
I’ve reached a point where I don’t want to figure this out alone, and I don’t want advice from others who are not in this with me. I want to co-create with others who want this to exist too.
This is what I’m imagining. I have more ideas, but I want to hear yours too.
What would your shelf look like?
What would you host here?
How do you dream of using a space like this?
Together I'm certain we can make something even better than what I'm picturing alone.
My question is: are there enough people in Melbourne who want this to exist?
Not just “this sounds great” (appreciated, though!) - but “yes, I would pay $80-100/month to co-steward this space.”
If we can find at least 50 people ready to say yes, I think we could open by 2027, maybe sooner. If there isn’t enough genuine interest, that's okay too - the whole purpose of this post is to see if this is something that the community actually wants - it’s not just for me, after all!
Next Steps
If you’re interested in being part of this from the beginning, here’s what happens next:
Express your interest - Send us an email with the subject line "WANDER" and I'll add you to the list to stay in the loop
Info session - In the next few weeks, I’ll organise a gathering (most likely online) for those seriously interested. This will be a conversation, not a pitch - a chance to share the vision in more detail, hear your ideas, and gauge commitment levels to see if this idea is viable.
Founding circle - If there's enough interest, we’ll form a founding circle of committed shelf-owners who want to build this together from the ground up.
Location: Eastern suburbs Melbourne (accessibility is important - near a train station, bike paths, car parking, ground floor)
Timeline: 2027, potentially sooner if we can make the numbers work
Working name: In my mind, I'm calling it Wander - a space for wandering thoughts, dreams, creativity and connection without pressure. It's a working title. This post is all about planting a seed, and seeing what grows! 🌱
P.S.
You don't need to be in Melbourne to co-own a shelf, either. Interstate and international shelf-owners are welcome - you could post us books and we could help you tend your shelf. What an incentive to not only support this space but come and visit!
Amy Han is the founder of Words of a Feather, a creative writing studio that has been supporting writers of all ages across Melbourne since 2011. She believes creativity is a basic human right, not a luxury, and that community is stronger than individual effort.
You can read more about her here.
or see the original Instagram post about the proposed Wander Library here.
