90 Little Book Stops
Bringing the joy of reading to your community
It’s Penguin’s 90th birthday and we’re celebrating 90 years of reading moments with an exciting new project: 90 Little Book Stops
Little Book Stops, also known as community bookshelves or book boxes, are book exchange spots that live in your neighbourhood. The first was installed as a ‘Little Free Library’ in 2009 in the US state of Wisconsin and went on to inspire a global network of over 200,000 communal book boxes.
We're thrilled to be working with the non-profit Little Free Library who run the network to celebrate our 90th birthday.
Images are for illustrative purposes only. The final design may differ.
We want our Little Book Stops to celebrate the joy of reading and the people who are championing access to books in their communities: librarians, teachers, community leaders, parent groups, book sellers, youth workers, – and maybe even your neighbour who is always recommending your next read.
After receiving an overwhelming response, we have now selected 90 locations that will become home to the Little Book Stops. They will be installed across 12 regions in the UK over the autumn.
Check back in September, when we’ll be revealing all 90 locations and you can find your local Little Book Stop.
How does a Little Book Stop work?
The 90 Little Book Stops feature a bespoke Penguin design and be installed with an initial curation of 25 children’s and adult books, specially selected to celebrate 90 years of Penguin books.
After that the concept is simple: take a book, leave a book.
What makes a good Little Book Stop location?
The sky’s the limit!
We loved reading applications from all kinds of locations – from coastal paths, front gardens, town squares, islands, and everything in between.
Check back in September to see the 90 locations be revealed, covering all corners of the UK.
What does the steward role involve?
After the Little Book Stop is installed, it becomes the property of the steward and they are responsible for looking after it.
This involves monitoring the book stock, keeping the box clean and inviting, and ongoing maintenance so it remains in good condition.
Stewards are also responsible for registering the box with our partner Little Free Library. Registration gives stewards access to a support network and wide range of resources that help them make the most of their Little Book Stop.
