Sydney’s Footpath Library proves that stories belong to everyone, removing the walls and fees to provide anyone who wants a story with a good one.
Sometimes, the smallest ideas happen to be the ones that spread the farthest. This idea was exactly that. What started as a small table on a Sydney footpath, piled high with paperbacks, was offered to anyone passing by and became The Footpath Library. Now a full-blown non-profit founded by Sarah Garnett, The Footpath Library came from humble beginnings.
Through her work, she had the joy of developing a friendship that started way back in 2005 and is still going strong to this day. Michael Kelly, at the time, was homeless, and he proved that initiatives like The Footpath Library could really help change lives.
A Chance Meeting
The day that Sarah met Michael, she was running her mobile library for the homeless in Woolloomooloo, Sydney. She noticed a man with a long black coat and a beret, and a journal tucked under his arm. She couldn’t help but think he looked like he belonged in a Parisian café somewhere. Then, she watched him pick up a handful of Penguin Classics, and she was taken aback. “This is a serious reader,” she thought, and stepped forward to say hello.
Michael was well-spoken and gentle, a pleasure to speak to. He told Sarah he was an artist and even showed her his sketches. She was absolutely blown away. He was talented, exceedingly so. From there, their friendship blossomed.
Michael came back each week for more books and more conversation. The two of them would speak about philosophy, literature, and the intricacies of life. It wasn’t long before their conversations deepened, and Sarah learned about Michael’s son, his struggles with schizophrenia, and the other hardships Michael had faced.
The books had been the starting point, but their friendship gave Michael something to look forward to each week. It made sure someone checked in with him, and beyond anything else, gave them both a connection they’d value forever.
From Friends to Family
Four years later, in 2009, Michael had to have urgent surgery on his esophagus. At the time, he was living out of his van. When he let slip to Sarah about the procedure, she reacted immediately. She told him then and there that he would not be recovering on the street or in his van. He was coming to stay with her.
He hesitated at first, but accepted, and found that Sarah and her husband Shane opened their house to him happily. Michael only stayed for about five days, but it changed everything. Their friendship deepened, and Sarah’s determination to help him rebuild his life grew stronger.
So much so that when Michael went back to living in his van, Sarah couldn’t stand it. She eventually took to Housing NSW and declared, “This man has just had surgery. I’m not leaving until you do something,” and, well, it worked! They agreed to pay rent for Michael if Sarah found him a place, and soon enough, he had his own home. From there, he blossomed. He traveled to Italy, put himself through school, and took control of his life again.
The Footpath Library
The story of Sarah and Michael is more than just a tale of friendship. It’s a real glimpse into what The Footpath Library stands for and what it can do. When Sarah founded the organization, her vision was simple: to bring books and dignity to those experiencing homelessness.
For many, even those who aren’t homeless, reading offers a pocket of peace. For those going through something as hard as homelessness, that peace can be really hard to find. Michael explained, “It’s very stressful being homeless, and reading is a great relief.”
But beyond that, The Footpath Library offers homeless people a friendly face. Michael explained how those Tuesday nights were a bright spot in his life. “Sarah was easy to talk to—bright, optimistic. She lifted my spirits.”
Ultimately, that’s what The Footpath Library does best: it offers connection, not just charity.
How Is The Footpath Library Doing Now?
On a weekly basis, in places like Martin Place, Sydney, volunteers set up a table or a mobile station where people can pick up a book, grab a hot drink, and have a chat. A typical Tuesday night sees around 30 books taken and about 60 drinks enjoyed.
The Library is more than just that, now, though. There’s also a “hub” service where people can visit a safe space and access legal advice, glasses, haircuts, and help with forms, as well as books. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the library even launched an e-library so people could access e-books while services were suspended.
Anyone keen to help The Footpath Library (and who lives in Australia) can do so by donating books, volunteering to help at the mobile services, and supporting them online. By doing so, they can keep up the magic that brought together Sarah and Michael, and plenty of others.
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Millie Ramm
Millie has been writing since she was a child, and has spent more time with her nose in books than anywhere else. She has been ghostwriting novels and editing for the past few years, and when not working she is curled up with her cats, looking for her next read.
