The Book
& Lantern
A locally rooted project devoted to books, ideas, practical knowledge, and meaningful connection in Squamish, BC. Part book-sharing network, part curated learning project, and part long-term vision for a gathering space. The Book & Lantern begins with a simple idea: communities grow when knowledge is shared.
This project was inspired by a love of books, a deep connection to this place, and a desire to give something meaningful back to the community. We hope it will be shaped by the people, knowledge, questions, and possibilities already here, while helping worthwhile books, useful knowledge, and unfamiliar perspectives reach more people.
Books Are More
Than Words
Books carry stories about who we are, where we came from, how the world works, and what kinds of futures are possible. Some of those stories help us understand ourselves more clearly. Others contain assumptions that deserve to be questioned.
Our purpose is to help thoughtful books, useful knowledge, and better questions become easier to find. We want to encourage curiosity, careful reasoning, honest conversation, and the freedom to encounter perspectives that may deepen or challenge our own.
What Guides Us
The Book & Lantern is rooted in the conviction that our wellbeing is inseparable from the wider community of life. As we face interconnected challenges such as climate disruption, inequality, and social fragmentation, we seek to examine familiar assumptions about progress and to explore healthier, more sustainable ways of living together.
Honest inquiry, access and sharing, and kinship with the living world guide the choices we make. Rather than prescribing answers, we hope to create opportunities for people to learn from one another, think more deeply about the challenges before us, and explore possibilities grounded in care, resilience, and belonging.
What We Hope To Build
The Book & Lantern is beginning at a small, practical scale. We are collecting and curating books, supporting Little Free Libraries, and developing a community lending network across Squamish. Together, these efforts keep useful books in circulation and create more opportunities for discovery.
Over time, we hope to give the project a permanent home: a warm community library, curated bookstore, café, and gathering space. A true “third place” where people can read, exchange ideas, and spend time with neighbours without being rushed.