Little Free Libraries in Wester Hailes

Over the last three years, volunteers have been building Little Free Libraries in Wester Hailes in an effort to bring books to children in one of Edinburgh's most deprived areas.

Little Free Libraries is a worldwide book-sharing movement which aims to enhance access to books for all through a global network of volunteer-led little libraries installed in communities of all shapes and sizes.

In Edinburgh in particular, there are little libraries dotted about Leith, Stockbridge, Dalry, Blackford, and the New Town. You can find them on the Little Free Libraries interactive map.

Volunteers in Wester Hailes are working hard to build on and improve their Little Library book distribution in the area in order to make sure that more children have access to literature.

Nora Murray-Cavanagh, who runs a little free library project in Shandon, came up with the idea as a result of working as a GP at Wester Hailes Practice, where she identified a growing need for children’s literature in the community.

Nora Murray-Cavanagh said:

“The idea of putting them in Wester Hailes, in one of the most deprived areas of Scotland, is to get books out to homes there to get literature into kids’ hands.

"We know that childhood literacy is so strongly associated with health and wealth outcomes in later life so for me being involved in it so part and parcel of my work as a GP. Part of the idea is that they run themselves, so as a steward I just keep an eye on them to ensure they are not being vandalised but generally the community look after it.”