New Malden Attraction Puts A Different Spin On The Traditional Library

MALDEN, MA — A longtime resident has turned a lifelong hobby into a new community attraction aimed at giving local children something fun to discover, share, and enjoy.

The city’s first Hot Wheels Library was recently installed outside the Linden Dunkin’ Donuts near the intersection of Lynn and Beach streets, alongside the Northern Strand Community Trail.

The small display allows children to take, leave, or trade Hot Wheels and other toy cars. It includes 24 individual parking spaces and room for four additional cars on a ledge, allowing approximately 28 cars and trucks to be displayed at a time. Children do not need to leave a car in order to take one.

The idea came from longtime Malden resident and Hot Wheels collector John Melanson, who had seen similar concepts established elsewhere in the country.

“I saw it online. It’s being done in other states, so I figured why not try,” Melanson told Patch.

Getting the idea off the ground took several weeks. Melanson initially hoped to install the library on city property and reached out to the city administrator, who referred him to Ward 8 City Councilor Jadeane Sica to seek permission.

As that process continued, management at the Linden Dunkin’ Donuts and Couto Corp stepped in and allowed the library to be installed on the business's fence. The location kept the library in the same general area where Melanson had originally hoped to place it.

Once the location was secured, Melanson and his brother-in-law, David Giardino, went to work building the display. Melanson told Patch the entire process took approximately three to four weeks.

Giardino helped Melanson construct the library, including its individual parking spaces. Melanson said the original idea and subsequent promotion of the library have been his responsibility.

The location places the library directly alongside the Northern Strand Community Trail, a roughly nine-mile path that travels through Malden and neighboring communities and is regularly used by walkers, runners and bicyclists.

Sica said she was happy to see the idea find a home in Ward 8.

“I absolutely love seeing ideas like this come to life in Ward 8,” Sica told Patch. “The Hot Wheels Library is about more than just toy cars — it’s about giving kids something fun to enjoy while encouraging sharing, kindness, and a sense of community.”

Sica emphasized that the library is not strictly a one-for-one exchange.

“A child doesn’t have to leave a car in order to take one,” Sica said. “If they see one they love, they’re welcome to take it and enjoy it.”

Residents with Hot Wheels or other small toy cars that are no longer being used are also encouraged to stop by and add them to the library.

Melanson created a Facebook group dedicated to the library where families can share photos of cars their children select or vehicles they donate. The library is accessible around the clock.

Thus far, Melanson said the response has exceeded his expectations.

“The reception from the kids and adults has been absolutely amazing,” Melanson said. “It is definitely a very popular place to be right now.”

The project also combines Melanson's longtime interest in die-cast cars with the community he has called home for decades.

Melanson was born and raised in neighboring Everett before moving to Malden after he and his wife married. He told Patch he has now lived in the city for approximately 40 years.

Melanson has collected Hot Wheels throughout his life and is involved in several die-cast collecting groups. His personal collection has grown to more than 2,000 pieces.

“For me, this just made total sense to do,” Melanson told Patch.

Hot Wheels were first introduced by Mattel in 1968 and have since become one of the company's best-known toy lines. Community sharing displays dedicated to the cars have also appeared elsewhere in the country, taking inspiration from the neighborhood book-sharing concept popularized by Little Free Library.

Mayor Gary Christenson joined Sica, Melanson and others for the introduction of the Malden library. The city announced the project in late September.

Sica credited Melanson and Giardino for bringing the idea to the neighborhood, along with Dunkin’ and Couto Corp for providing a place for it.

“I’m incredibly grateful to John Melanson and David Giardino for the time, creativity, and effort they put into making this happen, and to Dunkin’ and Couto Corp for allowing us to place it on their property,” Sica told Patch. “It’s been wonderful seeing the community embrace it.”

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