West Swindon Parish Council has refurbished its original Little Library at Peatmoor Lake and installed five new book boxes at Crawford Close, Swinley Drive, King Henry Drive, Lucerne Close and Sparcells Drive.
The book boxes are free to use and are designed to encourage residents to take a book, leave a book and help keep stories circulating within their neighbourhoods.
Each of the Little Libraries has been built and painted by the Parish Team. They are supported by volunteer hosts who help keep them stocked and looked after.
The aim of the scheme is to make books more visible and accessible, particularly in residential areas where formal libraries are not always within easy walking distance.
Cllr Rose Llewellyn, Chair of the Parish Council, said:
“Little Libraries are a simple idea that help us promote a love of reading whilst also sharing and recycling.
“Our thanks go to the hosts for their support and we hope our libraries will be well used and well loved.”
The initiative comes at a time when child literacy continues to be a national concern. Studies and education reports have repeatedly shown that many children leave primary school without reaching expected reading standards, with outcomes often linked to deprivation and access to books at home.
Reading for pleasure has also declined in recent years, particularly among younger children, despite evidence that early exposure to books supports vocabulary, confidence and long-term educational outcomes.
By placing books directly into everyday public spaces, schemes such as Little Libraries aim to reduce barriers linked to cost and access. They are not intended to replace schools or public libraries but to complement them by encouraging informal engagement with reading.
In West Swindon, the focus is on creating small and visible opportunities for reading to become part of daily community life, relying on local participation rather than structured programmes.
Further information about the Little Libraries project is available on the Parish Council’s website at www.westswindon-pc.gov.uk
