Freston: mini-library in telephone box, closed by pandemic

Image: © Christopher Hilton Taken: 26 Jul 2020

During the early twenty-first century, two trends coincided: the rise of the mobile telephone meant that more and more phone boxes were closing as unnecessary, whilst the years of "austerity" following the 2008 financial crash led to the closure of many local libraries and their replacement by self-organised, volunteer-led initiatives like this. Disused telephone boxes thus became popular locations for local mini-libraries such as this one in Freston (when pictured in 2006, it was still in use as a telephone box: Image). This image was taken during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, as a result of which the library was closed to prevent infection via either the books or the air in this confined space. Behind it eggs had been on sale using an honesty box for payment, but these were sold out.

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