Abbey People has launched a new community book-exchange box, the Ekin Road Little Free Library, officially opened by Sonita Alleyne OBE, Master of Jesus College, on Monday 27 October at 1:00pm.
The Little Free Library movement began in the in 2009 and now includes more than 175,000 registered libraries in over 120 countries, sharing over 400 million books worldwide. These small book boxes encourage people to “take a book, leave a book,” making reading accessible to everyone and helping neighbours connect through stories.
The new Ekin Road Little Free Library joins others in the Abbey area – on Wadloes Road, Beche Road, and at the Food Hub. Three of these have been built and decorated by the Jesus College maintenance team.
Sonita Alleyne OBE, Master of Jesus College, said: “I’m delighted that we could help Abbey People to open another Little Free Library, which make such a different to the local community. This project has been supported by many people at Jesus College, from those who donated books to the Maintenance staff who have carefully built these beautiful little libraries. We are always looking for ways to foster further engagement within the wider Cambridge community.”
Abbey People’s Little Free Library project began in March 2020, started by local volunteer Catherine Galloway, affectionately known as the “Book Lady.” Since then, Abbey People has promoted reading and book sharing through its pop-up Little Free Library tent at the Big Lunch, the Spring into Reading campaign at Galfrid School, and by including new books in Christmas Hamper deliveries each year.
Miriam Ferrer-Espinosa, who hosts the new Ekin Road Little Free Library, said: “I’m very excited about hosting a LFL in Ekin Road. Big challenges and changes are going to happen in the area in the next couple of years, and I hope the library can be a bit of an oasis amongst the chaos. Making books easily accessible for children and elderly is more important than ever, and I feel very proud of joining the team of great LFLs around Abbey.”
In a country where one in six adults struggles with basic reading and writing tasks, Abbey People see projects like this as vital to helping both children and adults build confidence and connection through reading.
Nicky Shepard, CEO of Abbey People, said: “Reading shapes us at every age. For children, it builds confidence, vocabulary, and imagination. For adults, stories remind us of shared experience and community. The Little Free Libraries are a simple but powerful way for people to share books and ideas across generations. They show that learning and imagination truly belong to everyone.”
Abbey People continue to grow its network of Little Free Libraries across the community and is inviting residents to get involved.
If you’d like to help by building Little Free Libraries, donating, sorting or delivering books, or becoming a volunteer host, please contact Abbey People at admin@abbeypeople.org.uk
