Take a book and leave a book at homemade library in Mereside
As schools across Blackpool remain closed and libraries stick to strict temporary opening hours due to lockdown, members of the community in Mereside have stepped up to ensure no child falls behind with their reading.
Reverend Linda Tomkinson, of Freedom Church Mereside, has set up a ‘free library’ on Langdale Road, where people can pick up new books and leave old ones behind.
Linda said: “I thought, with children not going into school they might not have access to the books they would have had otherwise, and with libraries being closed a lot of people might be stuck at home with nothing to do. It’s a way of helping the community.”
The free library was made by a local woodworking group and placed on the road near Mereside Academy last week.
Linda said: “I made a video advertising the library and it has definitely been used since then People have put books in and taken them out.
“We have had donations of boxes of books so I’m keeping a stock of books in the house for when the shelves are getting low.
“There are no closing hours for this library. First thing in the morning or last thing at night, it’s always there.
“We have had a lot of people tell us they think it’s a really good idea. We shared it with Mereside Primary School and a lot of the parents said they were looking forward to bringing their children down to let them choose their own books.”
The free library contains both adult and children’s books. Anyone who takes a book is asked to leave another in its place.