The launch of one of Scotland’s smallest libraries could help a Fife community turn over a new leaf.
The size of a bird house, The Wee Library, as it is known, has been placed in a playpark in the middle of a Buckhaven housing estate.
Stocked with children’s picture books as well as grown-up tomes, the novel idea is aimed at tempting more people away from televisions and computer screens and encouraging them to enjoy reading.
It was the brainchild of local Labour councillor Ryan Smart, who hopes it will mark the start of a new chapter for people who live in the area.
“We are hoping this will encourage parents to read along with their kids when they’re in the park and make books available to them,” he said.
“This could help tackle literacy issues in the area.”
The little wooden hut was made by Colin Pentland and Bob Porter from Buckhaven environmental charity CLEAR using scrap wood donated by local companies.
It has been placed in the playpark at Mavis Bank in an area known locally as the Bird Scheme.
Mr Smart said as well as reading at the park, people would be able to take books away with them and either bring them back when they are finished or replace them with alternatives.
“Bringing books to parks like this will hopefully encourage folk to come and borrow a book from The Wee Library,” he said.
“It’s also for parents because when they’re here they’ll have time to read to their children.
“They can take books or if they’ve any books they don’t want anymore they can bring them as long as they’re good quality.”
The library will not be run on a formal basis with a member of staff checking books in and out.
Rather, it will be up to the community themselves to operate and look after it.
If it proves successful, the idea could be rolled out to other parts of Buckhaven and Methil.
“We’ll see how it works and how the community is feeling about it after the first three or four months,” said Mr Smart.
“It’s for everyone in the community, not just those in the Bird Scheme.”
