Living Library

Welcome to the Living Library

Started in Spring 2022, the Living Library promotes horticultural education through gardening programming, a specialized botanical collection, a seed catalog, a “Garden of Things” and an informative resource section containing pamphlets and “How-To” guides.

Grow Your Community

By exploring the benefits of indoor/outdoor growing, the library will cultivate interest towards improving health, nutrition, entertainment, outdoor activity and community engagement. Designed to accommodate “green thumbs” of all levels and expertise, the Living Library is ALIVE with possibilities for learning and enjoyment.

See Upcoming Meetings & Events

What’s in the Living Library?

The Seed Catalog is an assortment of seeds organized to assist gardeners with their spring harvest planning. Categorized by fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers, users will find a wide assortment of plants which are appropriate for growing in the New England area. 

How it works:
Pick up free seed packets on the 2nd floor of the Main Library (4 packets maximum per visit)
Visit the Reference Desk to “check out” your selection of seeds — each packet contains 3 to 4 seeds. Bring your seeds home and plant them.

Here you will find totes packed with useful tools and tips to help gardeners create and harvest a successful patio or backyard garden.

Kits include:

  • A “How To” guide
  • Starter containers
  • Trowels
  • Soil tester
  • Work gloves
  • Hand rake
  • Seed labels

These kits will support seasoned or first-time gardeners in their growing endeavors! Bags will be available for two week borrowing by Westwood residents only and may be checked out at the Information Desk on the second floor.

The Garden Bibliothèque is a specialized collection of books dedicated to providing patrons with horticultural information on a wide variety of topics. Read about:

  • Gardening
  • Farm-to-table cuisine
  • Plant crafting
  • Floral arranging
  • Landscape and botanical design

You can browse titles to troubleshoot gardening dilemmas or search for inspiration in this specially curated botanical compilation. All items of the Garden Bibliothèque feature a “Living Library” sticker on the spine for easy recognition and browsing. Westwood Library staff are continuously selecting new books to be added regularly to ensure an up-to-date resource for all skill-level garden enthusiasts.

Our Gardening Information section provides you with an array of helpful information to support your green thumb efforts. Resources include:

Have a suggestion for a particular topic you would like to know more about? Let us know at the Reference Desk or email askwestwood@minlib.net and we will add it to our resource leaflets. Looking for more gardening advice? Try the New England Botanic Garden’s Horticultural Help Line! 

Our series of Living Library plant programs (formerly “Bloom Zoom”) brings you floral and gardening programs to encourage hands-on horticultural learning. Topics include:

  • Outdoor planting and maintenance
  • Seedling cultivation
  • Floral crafting and arranging
  • Flower fun facts

Visit our Bloom Zoom LibGuide for previous programming videos, “Gardening with Suzie” videos, and more! For upcoming plant programs, check the library’s events calendar.


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