Perched on a wall behind the Warrender Park Road bus stop, Marchmont Road’s mini library is a simple wooden structure with some endearing hand-drawn detailing. Unfortunately, at the time of my visit on Tuesday, 28 October, the contents left much to be desired.
The deep shelves were filled by a mere four books, all in questionable condition. Available was parents’ self-help guide Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, slim non-fiction. A Little Book About Hockey, formulaic thriller Cold Fire, and toddler-oriented Tess the Tractor. A paltry offering of free pens accompanied these titles. While mini libraries have the opportunity to be wonderful community-based projects, they only thrive if people give as well as take.
However, it is important to note that perhaps the current emptiness of Marchmont’s Mini Library is testament to its success, the emptiness being indicative that people know it is there, and are keen to use it, which, after all, is the intention.
That said, given how few books were in the box, Marchmont Road’s mini library had an impressive range of target audiences catered for with the variety of genres at hand. Of all the mini libraries in Edinburgh, Marchmont Road’s is unique in its independence. Most are affiliated with an organisation such as BookCrossing, which oversees eight, or Little Free Libraries, which is responsible for thirty-five.
Little Free Libraries opened their first box in Stockbridge in 2016 and have expanded across wider Edinburgh since. All locations have been requested by their community. Each mini library is assigned a custodian who manages both the contents, ensuring there are no repeated titles, and the condition of the structure.
Little Free Libraries’ website offers advice to anyone looking to install a mini library in their local area. They urge considering whether or not council permission will be required, for example, if attaching the box to a wall, as well as having a named custodian to maintain the library. It is possible for the organisation to construct one or to buy one of their kits and have a go at DIY; either option costs £250-£300.
Alternatively, a skilled book-lover could craft and install one for a lesser cost independently of the organisation, as is the case with Marchmont
Road’s mini library. No matter the method, there are only positives to setting up mini libraries. They facilitate greater access to literature, extending the services of public libraries, and promote both literacy and community. Although there are several public libraries in Edinburgh, these smaller versions could be more convenient for some residents, for example, by being open 24/7. The only downside is the limited curation; however, this means their contents will always, for better or for worse, be a surprise.
So on your next walk down Marchmont Road or Leith Walk, keep an eye out for a small wooden box you could either grab from or – perhaps more importantly, given the current state of Marchmont’s mini library – donate to.
Image Via Isabel Beiboer for The Student