During the pandemic, an Englishwoman created a local library out of her garage.
In 2020, the world went into lockdown during the global pandemic. Establishments everywhere were closed, which meant no restaurants, no outings, and no bookstores. Lisa Batty, of Oakham, England, decided to offer bibliophiles of her town an escape and opened her garage up for a book borrowing and swapping operation.
Finding Hope
Lisa Batty is a self-proclaimed bookworm. In the midst of the pandemic, she found herself thinking about how she could give back to her community while respecting local social distancing requirements.
She gathered a few of her own well-loved books and piled them in a box to be placed outside of her home. She hoped that neighbors passing by could take a book to enjoy at home. What started out as a box or two on the curb has grown into a fully operating library in Lisa’s home.
Community Support
When word of Ms. Batty’s initiative got around the community, support for the project cropped up. Soon hundreds of books were being donated and Batty’s curbside operation was outgrown quickly. In an interview with BBC, she shares, “We only intended to have a few boxes of books out on a table for free for people, but we got too many donations so we opened up the garage.” Batty transformed her garage into a fully operational library by lining the walls with shelves and getting creative with utilizing her space.
The library is now home to over 1,000 books with something for everyone, housing books for ages 3 to 93. There is no requirement for books or monetary donations. Visitors can simply show up and borrow any book they’d like without expectations. Batty says, “Everyone is welcome. You don’t have to bring a book. Just come, have a browse, and take a book to read.” The library is open every second Sunday of the month and is welcome to all.
Beyond Books
What started out as an easy way to exchange books has grown into a hub for giving back in other ways. “The Oakham Book Swap” currently supports 12 local and national charities. They often host fundraisers and raffles at their monthly book swap events, offering chances for readers to win prizes in exchange for donations. In addition to the community events, any monetary donation received in exchange for the books goes to the Oakham Canal Green Corridor Project.
Book Crossers Delight
The Oakham Book Swap has an active social media presence and works hard to spread the word about upcoming events. In 2024, the book swap was named an official Book Crossing Zone, joining thousands of book swaps around the world. Batty, an active Book Crosser member for over 20 years, found this to be an extra special achievement.
Looking Forward
This year, the Oakham Book Swap celebrated four years of operation. To celebrate, Batty offered a special giveaway on the swap’s Facebook page. In those four years, thousands of books have been donated or borrowed. What began as a COVID passional project has solidified itself as a local institution and four years later, the Oakham Book Swap continues to thrive. “It’s great to pass on books and new stories to people,” says Batty.
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Carley Bishop
Carley is an editorial lifestyle writer and aspiring novelist. She is based in North Carolina where she resides with her husband and their puppy, Daisy, and is a proud graduate of University of South Carolina. Carley is a lifelong bookworm who enjoys reading everything from the classics to modern romances. When she's not reading or writing, she enjoys traveling, getting outside and trying new recipes at home.
