Has anyone ever done pop up public libraries? If the people are no longer going to libraries why not bring the libraries to the people? But here’s the good bit – possibly. If you had, say, a pop up library in a station, airport or supermarket you’d give people a pre-paid envelope to mail the book back to the main library.
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There are actually Beach Libraries in Copenhagen every summer provided by the public library of Copenhagen in a cute little caravan: http://a.bimg.dk/node-images/214/4/800×600-u/4214839-bibliotekarer-sidder-parate-til-at-hjlpe-dig-med-at-finde-det-helt-rigtige-lsestof-under-parasollerne-p-amager-strand.jpg
I like the sound of that. They should be on planes and trains too.
Actually…pop-up libraries on beaches in Australia over Christmas. That would really work! Ellen, are you reading this????
I lived in Lasham in country Hampshire in the late ‘fifties/early ‘sixties and the mobile library popped up once a week parking outside our farmhouse front door. The milkman had already been and the grocer was due in about an hour coinciding with the Vicar who drifted by with the roneod parish newsletter. The Squire’s foxhounds raced through the garden a bit later followed hard on by the huntin’ fraternity, red-faced and narrow-minded. We all ended up at The Royal Oak by evening time and rounded off the day with a game of darts. No time for TV and who needs Facebook!
On a similar note to Oliver, my council offers a mobile library service. I had always assumed that all UK councils offer mobile libraries.
Pop Ups are mobile, but mobiles aren’t Pop Up (in my view).
There is a world trend called, Little Free Libraries. It’s an organization whose mission is to develop these little libraries in communities all over the world. Some are whimsical in design and can be as small as a rural mailbox. The conept is to take a book or donate a book. Neighbors are gathering at the little free library to chat and get acquainted over books. They are especially nice on schoolyards for summer reading so that school children can read during school breaks. Go to littlefreelibraries.com for information to create your own.
Pendleton (Oregon) Public Library has nine red book shelves in various places in the community (DMV, County Health Clinic, brew pub, walk-in clinic, tire store, etc) which are called the Little Re(a)d Bookshelves. They are restocked by volunteers. The books come the the Pendleton Friends of the Library’s stock for its huge booksale in October. The slide-together-shelves are painted bright red. Anyone is free to read a book on location, take them home, and even bring some in for the shelf. There are books for children and adults on each shelf, along with informational and program brochures. One could say they just ‘popped up’ on location, but they have become an endearing part of the our town.