Our Little Village Library/Book Exchange

Old telephone box converted to a village book exchange

I posted about this on twitter a little while ago, but then it occurred to me that I don't think I mentioned it on my blog. So I thought I'd rectify that now. 

I'd noticed a village nearby where the residents had turned their old unused red telephone box into a little book exchange, and I thought it was really wonderfully done. Then I realised we had the self same thing standing unused in our village and how wonderful it would be if we could convert ours too! Several enquiries to various authorities and a bit of lovely signage and shelf-building later, and we now have our very own little village library! I help keep it neat and tidy and it's a lovely thing to be involved with. As you can see from the picture above, Daisy pup was intrigued by it too and was having a good look at the book selection! The idea is to bring along a book you've finished with, leave that one, and then take a book that you fancy reading. There's no obligation to then return that book, though I've noticed some readers do indeed do that. 

There's a couple of photos below of some of our early stock, it's changed around several times since then. But it gives a flavour of the variety we've got, from Wodehouse and Kafka and Homer, to Anita Shreve and Ian Rankin, from Anne Fine to Jo Nesbo, from Cecelia Ahern to Stieg Larsson and from Hilary Mantel to Nick Hornby - there's a really nice variety being donated and swapped. There's romance, historical, adventure, biographies and children's books too. 

A selection of the reading material on offer

It's interesting to see the variety of books that people read and donate. It seems a popular way of sharing the books you've bought and enjoyed and want to pass on, plus a chance to discover something that you may never have thought about trying before. And in places where there may be people who can't get to the nearest actual library building,  or can't get there very often, it gives another option for borrowing books. 

We also have a little noticeboard inside, where I've placed a pen and some notepaper, and people can write requests and ask if there's anything in particular they are looking for which someone else might have and be happy to pass on. 

More of the books that have been donated/swapped

Do you think this is a good idea? Have you seen one of these, or a similar type of scheme near you? Would you like one?