The Incredible Little Libraries are one of the wonderful things that marks out Todmorden as being such a special place to live and learn. Numbering over twenty at present and with more being added all the time, these free to use mini ‘lending’ hubs can be found throughout Todmorden and nearby villages including Cornholme, Walsden, Portsmouth, Eastwood, and Lydgate.
Quite a few are located on the towpaths of the Rochdale Canal, providing an amusing and entertaining diversion for the thousands of tourists, hillwalkers and locals for whom the towpaths are both a scenic highlight and a connection between the villages and hamlets on the canal’s banks.
It must be said that the Little Libraries are not libraries in the literal sense. Not only can books be taken to read – and either returned to a Little Library or passed on to another reader – but people are also encouraged to donate books for others to enjoy. By doing so, these compact libraries, some of which are modelled after local landmarks such as Fielden Hall and Stoodley Pike, also give people the chance to share their love of books with others.
From child-friendly picture books to spy novels and everything in between, these little literary gems are both a testament to the joy of reading and the ability of a local community to work together and achieve big things through small deeds.
Our Little Libraries are also part of a worldwide, volunteer-led movement. There are over 100,000 of them in locations across the world, showing that good ideas and good deeds can travel far and wide.
If you’d like to help maintain or expand our network of Little Libraries here in Todmorden, just drop us a line.