About nine months ago whilst visiting the nearest largest town, Carmarthen, I happened to notice a sign saying 'Books for Free' outside an old Allied Carpets showroom. Naturally I had to investigate and found the whole space full of thousands of books on all subjects and I was allowed to take three of them away with me for nothing! Gratis. Free. No catch. Unbeknown to me this shop had been up and running locally for about three months (now a year!) and there are plenty more of them out there all over the UK taking unwanted books from the public, publishers and charity shops rather than let them go to landfill which is their fate unless someone comes along to love them. All the shops are run by the charity
Healthy Planet, staffed with volunteers and so far they've saved over 2 million books from landfill. Rather than just take what I fancy, when I see a sign saying I can have a maximum of something, I tend to spend ages making sure I give three books a new home... as if I need any more!
Whilst in town today I couldn't resist it and so came home with a musty old book on wildlife, a tatty little book about bird's eggs and where to find them (so un-pc in this day and age I know but the illustrations are great) and a truly beautiful find of a children's nature book illustrated by Paxton Chadwick. I have quite a few Puffin Picture Books that he illustrated in the 50's and 60's and in amongst the foxed pages of my final free book are three pull out colour lithographs which are stunning in their detail. What a find. Not the norm of what I pick up there usually but a real treasure.
I have found some fascinating novels in the many boxes inside the store and once I've read them I have returned them in case they are wanted by other readers. I love the whole concept of the place and have recommended it to people over and over again. In truth, I feel I should offer to volunteer but I am afraid it will be the slippery slope with my book collecting habits. The owner of the Allied Carpets showroom has to pay business rates whether he has an occupant or not so having someone using the building makes good sense even though they are on 24 hour notice to move should the building suddenly get rented out. As it's been there a year I cannot see it happening any time soon in this current climate so do take a look at the link to the website and see if there is a Books for Free near you. It really is an easy cause to support and who knows what you could find?
13 comments:
What a wonderful idea I will certainly check it out. Love that pic of the climbing plants - is it a fold out illustration? Seeing the cleavers in it made me smile as I had never realised just how strong and determined that stuff is - it had taken over part of the jungle I have been clearing!
What great finds! The fold out illustrations are terrific. I think it's a very good idea. I like the idea of taking books back once you've read them too.
What a great idea! I love old natural history books! I like the sea birds picture!
I don't think I could have left the Birds' Eggs book there either........ A great idea for using an empty shop and also recycling.
Wow wow and more wow! I would have been hyperventilating over these books!!
I'll have to see if there is one near me.
x
What a coincidence. The other day I was driving by some shops and I noticed a sign over one of the shops( and I think it was an old carpet place too) and I thought it said free books but I thought I must be seeing things. Your books are beautiful I hope I am as lucky as you were when I rush back to see what they have.
The fold-out images are stunning. I've just looked up my nearest shop -- will give me an excuse to head to a corner of the county I hardly know...
What wonderful finds... although I am supposed to be clearing my stuff not adding to it!
The fold out illustrations are wonderful Lesley, what treasures.What a random combination! I never seems to have any luck at second hand book shops, let alone books for free.
The seabirds books are almost like an artists book, no ideas are new are they, but these are a good reminder of what can be achieved.
Lovely to see
Some days you just feel like you are the luckiest girl in the world don't you? Fancy having a shop like that and books like that which you can bring home for nothing! Can it get any better? Thanks for sharing the story and the images - frankly, I love them both!
What lovely illustrations; the books were far too lovely to sit there unwanted!! I seem to aquire new books as fast as I send others to the charity shop!!
Really interesting post Lesley, I seriously hope there's not one near me! Dangerous, but a brilliant idea. No, I've changed my mind, I'm going to check... Love the lithographs too.
Steph.
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