Using an old fridge as a book exchange in Merivale, Tauranga

Hana Henderson spoke to her fellow Pillans Point School students to ask for books for the community book exchange in Merivale.

There is a fridge in Merivale that is feeding the minds of the local community.

They've called it the Merivale Community Book Fridge — an old fridge which has been converted into a book exchange for the community.

Scott Henderson was inspired by a community book exchange project he saw in Punakaiki — a converted fridge. So he sourced a fridge, built the shelves, and daughter Hana, 10, did a book drive through Pillans Point School to collect books for the exchange.

Merivale Community Centre was approached and manager Sophie Rapson loved the idea.

"We asked our kids here [at the drop-in centre] what they wanted and the kids actually said they wanted more access to books. One of the key things for their success is whether there are books in homes and so we're happy to play some small part in this," Rapson said.

The children from the community have painted the fridge in small mosaics, a square each, to take ownership of the fridge.

Scott, with a background in education, believes adults are more likely to go on to further study and work if they have had literacy growing up.

The idea is to exchange books. But if you have no books to exchange, take a book.

The centre has many children's books, but they are in need of non fiction and educational books, as well as books for tweens and teenagers.

The library is installed at the front of Merivale Community Centre.