A delightful community-based initiative which has been taking off in Thanet in recent years is the establishment of a number of Free Little Libraries around the Isle. Thanet Little Libraries is a Facebook page which showcases many of them and is always keen to hear about more and add them to the page, celebrating them all.
Started by the Broadstairs Town Team and Town Shed project, Thanet Little Libraries on Facebook features several Libraries which have been built by Shed members and volunteers who love making things with wood and care about the community. The page also celebrates lots of Libraries which have been created spontaneously by individuals who are not connected to the Shed but love sharing books.
A Little Library is a book box, often with a pitched roof like a little house, or old-style school building. Library custodians usually have the Library installed outside their homes. The idea is that they place books inside which passers-by can help themselves to and donate their own surplus books when they have some. Like a normal lending library, you can take a book, read it and bring it back when you’ve finished, but you don’t need a library ticket. Often people will donate several books at a time when having a clear out.
You never know what you’ll find in a Little Library. Hardbacks, paperbacks, fiction of all genres and a wide range of non-fiction, even the odd recipe book sometimes find their way in there. Books and Beans in Madeira Road, Cliftonville has tins of foods as well as books!
Whatever your reading age or interests, you might find a real gem of a book that you will really enjoy, if you stop and take a peek.
There’s not much in life that gives more joy than the sharing of a good book. If your shelves are full why not have a little clear out and pass on some of your old books to your neighbour’s Little Library, if there’s one near you. Whoever gets to read them next will thank you for the kindness! There’s a special place in booky heaven for those who donate to the Little Libraries.
The one in Pierremont Park, Broadstairs is collectively looked after by a number of local volunteer custodians who live near the park. G.R.A.S.S. Cliftonville maintain a Little Library in Gordon Road, Margate and Drapers Mill Primary School also have their very own Little Library.
Some of the other little libraries around the Isle, maintained by kind book-loving people, include those in Seaford Road, Orchard Road Ramsgate, North Foreland Avenue and Westbrook Avenue.
Thanet Little Library locations:
- Pierremont Park, Broadstairs
- Orchard Close, Ramsgate
- Grotto Hill, Cliftonville
- Seaview Road, Broadstairs
- Foreland Avenue, Margate
- Minnis Road, Margate
- Gordon Road, Margate
- Westbrook Road, Margate
- Madeira Road, Cliftonville
- Drapers Mills Primary Academy
- Millmead Children’s Centre
- Canterbury Road, Margate
- Barnes Avenue, Westbrook
- Rancorn Road, Westbrook
- Eastchurch Road, Cliftonville