Shareable

We seem to be publishing an inordinate number of stories about libraries and drop boxes here at Shareable.

Now comes an item that combines the two, and it's cute: When the good people of Westbury-sub-Mendip in Somerset lost their bookmobile service, they bought a decommissioned telephone booth and repurposed it as a drop-in library. The BBC reports:

Villagers... can use the library around the clock, selecting books, DVDs and CDs.

Users simply stock it with a book they have read, swapping it for one they have not.

"It's really taken off. The books are constantly changing," said parish councillor Bob Dolby. He added: "It is completely full at the moment with books. Anyone is free to come and take a book and leave one that you have already read. This facility has turned a piece of street furniture into a community service in constant use."

A resident dreamed up the idea when the village lost its phone box and mobile library in quick succession.

Westbury-sub-Mendip Parish Council bought the phone box from BT in a national scheme for a token £1.

BT has received 770 applications for communities to 'adopt a kiosk', and so far 350 boxes have been handed over to parish councils. Phone boxes have been turned into art installations, a shower and even a public toilet.

Imagine what the villagers could do with TARDIS technology!