A church in Pudsey has become the latest organisation to host a Little Free Library.
The cupboard-on-a-post was firmly cemented into the ground at St James the Great Church in Pudsey by its maker, Dave Ayres, braving a sleet and snow storm.
It was then stocked by members of the congregation with a selection of novels and children’s books.
The concept is simple: either take a book, or leave a book. There’s no need to return it, and there’s no pressure to leave one, just do as you please!
Father Nicholas Clews, the parish priest, said.
“We are delighted to host the latest Little Free Library. It is such a wonderful and useful idea and a work of art as well. The church is well-used by the community and we hope that people passing by will feel free to take books out and add new ones.”
The library artwork, featuring shells, the symbol of St James, was designed and painted by Helen Corney and funded by Cllr Peter Carlill (Lab, Calverley and Farsley) using ‘MICE’ money from Leeds City Council. Cllr Carlill said:
“This is the third one we have funded in the area after the ones on Westdale Drive in Pudsey and Newlands in Farsley – and it’s amazing to hear that this will be the 61st Little Free Library across the city.
“These have become much-loved features within our community and I was really keen to see one come to this area, being so far from the nearest traditional libraries. Many thanks to St James the Great Church for supporting the project and agreeing to host it.”
The idea began in the USA in 2009 when Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a replica of a schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former teacher. He filled it and put it on a post in his front garden with a sign that said FREE BOOKS. His neighbours loved it and he was soon building more Little Free Libraries. There are now thousands worldwide.
Passers-by are free to take a book (or two) that they would like to read, keep it for as long as they like and return it to the Library when they have finished. If they love it so much that they want to pass it to someone they know instead: that’s fine too.