Little Book Stop With a Big Purpose
Nestled in our beautiful community garden, ‘A Common Paradise’, is the Little Book Stop. A new initiative, where locals can pick a book to borrow, swap and donate their old books. Since launching, the Little Book Stop has become the talk of the town, and we’ve had lots of visitors dropping by to pick up a book, and read in the garden and The Conversation Room while enjoying a coffee.
The Book Stop is part of Penguin’s celebration of 90 years of reading, and is one of 90 across the UK. Each mini library is overseen by a volunteer steward (ours is Shannon!), and serves as a welcoming, community space where anyone can drop by to donate a book or take one home to enjoy.
Like everything at The Exchange, the Book Stop is rooted in a much deeper story, one where empowerment, craft, community, and the long legacy of Erith’s Old Library come together to create a place where locals come together, creativity is encouraged, and knowledge is shared.
A Modern Twist on a Historic Mission
The Exchange was founded to ensure Erith’s Old Library has a sustainable future by creating a space that connects with the building's original purpose. Community and craft heritage are at the centre of what we do here at The Exchange, and we want to tackle loneliness and poor wellbeing, and bring the community together. Today, our Little Book Stop continues that heritage in a simple, joyful way.
You can visit the Little Book Stop between 10:30 am and 4 pm, Wednesday to Saturday. Find it at the main entrance, leading right into our garden. See it as a gentle invitation to take a moment to pause, get lost in a story, and surround yourself in nature/local heritage.
How Can Books Empower Us?
Reading has so many benefits. It introduces us to a fresh perspective, grows our knowledge, and can even strengthen our mental well-being and empathy. These are key ingredients to maintain strong communities and align with The Exchange’s vision.
Whether you’re looking for a new book to read in your free time, need something to do on a rainy day, or you’re a parent selecting a book for you and your child to read together, by visiting the Little Book Stop, you’re helping us work towards our empowerment vision that The Exchange/The Old Library was built to cultivate.
Crafting a Shared Cultural Space
Community book exchanges reflect the generosity of local residents who donate books, the kindness of those who keep it tidy, and inspiration for those seeking their next story. The Old Library was always a place for people to visit and feel welcome, and that’s what we’ve created. There are many benefits to shared community spaces, such as encouraging social skills, supporting mental wellbeing, reducing loneliness, meeting others with similar interests and creating connections.
We work hard to:
Champion cultural diversity
Celebrate local heritage
Tackle isolation and poor mental well-being
Support the local community and reduce loneliness
The Garden: A Place for Pause and Possibility
Situated in a stunning garden, designed by Sarah Price, the Little Book Stop encourages you to enjoy a moment of calm surrounded by nature, coffee, cake and friendly faces.
This connection to nature also aligns with our commitment to climate action. By encouraging reuse and sharing, book stops reduce waste and reinforce the value of sustainable, circular practices, which is something deeply embedded in our wider environmental mission.
The Exchange/the Little Book Stop is open to the public, free to access, and accessible to all. There’s seating available inside and outside, so no matter the weather, you have a place to sit and relax if you’d like to read here. So if you’re passing through, pop-in to pay it a visit, and stop to breathe, browse and borrow a book.
If you visit between Thursday to Saturday, you can also stop off at our Shop & Coffee Bar!