Phone box to be turned into free library
A FREE library is to be set-up in a phone box outside Elland Town Hall.
The community adoption and renovation of the BT phone boxes outside the old Elland Town Hall launched on World Book Day last week with an announcement of the plans to turn one into a free library.
The free library will be a public access repository to swap books for all the community to enjoy.
Plans are underway to officially adopt the phone box from BT with support from local businesses, Rhodes Joinery and Morrisons Elland and owned by Elland Round Table.
Renovations are in planning to restore the phone boxes’ former glory and further enhance them as miniature public libraries featuring artwork.
Artwork by renowned Calderdale artist Roo Waterhouse will feature on the library phone box with vinyl window displays of the artist’s beautiful Shelf
Portrait oil paintings celebrating the joys of the physical book.
The community-led project is being made possible by a local group of volunteers and the generous support of local business and initiatives in Elland.
The project was set up through the BT Adopt a Kiosk scheme where a local charity or business can adopt a kiosk for £1.
Dave Needham and Esther Barr were the Elland residents who brought the idea to the community.
Dave said: “When the cost of living is so high we wanted to provide a free resource for people to use and enjoy. We wanted this to be a community positive mutual aid resource whether that is seeds, books, food or anything else that the community needs.”
Esther said: “Dave approached Elland Round Table and their response was amazing.
“A group of people was then put together who have really helped get the ball rolling and now we have 210 people in a Facebook group along with local business who will help with the start-up maintenance and the success of the project. We are proud of Elland.”
Artist Roo Waterhouse said: “It’s really exciting to be promoting reading and the shared love of books and it’s a great, novel way for my art to be seen.”
We wanted to provide a free resource for people to use and enjoy