Earlier this month I put a call out on social media asking for suggestions of places to access books for free in Devon. I was hoping a few people might reply but I was overwhelmed by the response. Photos and mentions of mini libraries and book swaps in converted sheds, phone boxes and cabinets came flooding in, showing that Devon is filled with people who not only love to read, but want to share that love with others.
I started thinking about community book hubs after attending Exeter City of Literature’s Introduction to Bibliotherapy Skills course at Exeter College. The new course was made available to people working in community-focused organisations and over eight weeks we explored what bibliotherapy is and developed some skills to apply it in our work setting.
Bibliotherapy is the idea that books, and especially literature, can have a therapeutic effect and improve our wellbeing. Reading fiction can help us to process our emotions, offer us insights into our problems and show us that we are not alone in our thoughts and experiences. A good book also offers an escape from our day to day lives and, if nothing else, is an excellent way to pass the time while waiting for a bus – much better than scrolling on your phone.
And one of the best things about reading is that it costs nothing. Yes, new books can be expensive, but as the response to my social media post showed, there are individuals and groups all over Devon committed to ensuring that we can all have access to a steady supply of free reading material.
Before I get on to all those wonderful community initiatives I should of course mention your local library. Membership is free and will also give you access to the internet, computers and much more. Library services in Devon and Torbay are run by Libraries Unlimited and you can find your nearest library here if you’re in Devon or here if you’re in Torbay. In Plymouth libraries are run by the city council – find your nearest one here.
Aside from these there are also a wealth of informal spaces where books are made available. This might simply be a shelf in a community centre or café, where people are invited to swap a book they no longer want. In some places communities have turned bus shelters or disused phone boxes into libraries or book exchanges, and many people have joined the Little Free Library movement, which began in the US but quickly spread to the UK. Little Free Libraries are book-sharing boxes that are managed by volunteers, open 24/7 and freely accessible to all.
Corinna Byrne is steward for the Harry Potter-themed Hill Barton Vale Little Free Library, on the edge of Exeter, and with her husband has built another four little free libraries that are run by other volunteers – Stoke Hill Little Free Library, Whipton Little Free Library, one that is soon to be installed in the new Exeter housing estate of Sandrock and another which is in Bristol. The Harringtons Little Library and Tithe Barn Little Library are also on the outskirts of Exeter and were based on the design of the Hill Barton Vale library.
Corinna explains that she had seen Little Free Libraries online and loved the idea. When she and her husband moved into their house a few years ago they realized they now had the space to set one up and built a small weatherproof box with a couple of shelves to house books. This proved so popular that after a couple of years they decided to build something bigger. The original library was still in good condition so they gifted it to Whipton and, as they had more wood than they needed for their new library, they also built one for Stoke Hill.
Corinna is passionate about the positive impact that providing free access to books can have and particularly loves seeing local children getting interested and dropping by the library on their own. She also says that it’s been a fantastic way to bring people together, especially in a community of new builds like Hill Barton Vale. And through the library they have managed to secure some funding from Devon County Council to run a series of free family storytime sessions on the community green this summer. “Without the library we wouldn’t be doing any of this,” she says. “I think every community should have one.”
Another striking Little Free Library can be found in Forda, near Croyde in North Devon. This one is run by Karla Stocks and was set up during the pandemic. Karla says she has always enjoyed reading but didn’t have much time to do it until lockdown forced everyone to slow down. As she got back into reading she also realized that she had lots of books she no longer needed. “Setting up the free library seemed like a good way to share them with others.” Karla’s husband repurposed an old cabinet and they decorated it together. The library now gets “lots of lovely donations” which Karla adds to with trips to local charity shops. And during the busy holiday season it’s used by people visiting the area from all over the world, who leave comments in the library guestbook.
Karla says it’s hard to put her finger on what she loves about reading, but there’s something magical about being transported to a different world in just a few hundred pages. “It’s just really important that you don’t have to be wealthy enough to buy brand new books to experience that,” she adds.
There are so many free book hubs around Devon it would be impossible to include them all here, but the brief list below gives a taste of what is available. If you’re interested in starting your own there’s lots of useful information on the Little Free Library website. You can also contact the Community Insight Team and we will point you in the direction of people who might be able to help and give advice on funding that’s available – insights@devoncf.com.
