Al is an avid reader. He estimates he reads a different book every two days. He reads so much, people give him new books all the time. He had so many books, he and a friend decided to start their own library.
Only Al has no fixed address. He lives on the street, and so his upstart library is also on the street, under a small bridge on Lower Simcoe Street in Toronto.
“Passersby who noticed my interest in literature began to bring me books. As I have many, I decided to create a library,” said Al, an armed forces veteran who did not want to divulge too much about his identity or past.
Lower Simcoe Street has heavy foot traffic – people who now stop and peruse the underpass library’s selection of books. (Stephane Blais/CBC)
Al lives on the west side of the Simcoe underpass. His library partner is Elwin Murphy, who lives on the east side.
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