England's smallest library opens in old phone box » Communities » 24dash.com

An old red phone box has been turned into the country's smallest library and is already loaning more than 100 books.

The former BT phone kiosk in the Somerset village of Westbury-sub-Mendip has been transformed from a telephone exchange to a book exchange.

Villagers rallied together to put up shelves from DIY stores and now the phone box houses titles from cooking books to the classics and blockbusters to children's books.

The kiosk library is open around the clock, 365 days a year, and users simply stock it with a book they have read swapping it for a book they haven't.

The library also includes CDs and DVDs and is even illuminated at night for insomniacs.

Janet Fisher, who lives in the village, came up with the idea when the community lost its traditional red phone box and its mobile library in quick succession.

Westbury bought the phone box from BT in a national scheme for £1.

Parish councillor, Bob Dolby, said they have installed four wooden shelves and erected 'book exchange' signs on the kiosk.

"It is completely full at the moment with books, anyone is free to come and take a book and leave one that you have already read," said Mr Dolby, who cleans and maintains the book exchange with his wife Lyn.

"Its really taken off, the books are constantly changing and people have brought along CDs, audio tapes and DVDs too.

"We had a mobile library service which recently discontinued, and our nearest library is four miles away so it was difficult for the elderly residents to access reading material.

"This facility has turned a piece of street furniture into a community service in constant use."

BT have received 770 applications for communities to 'adopt a kiosk' and so far 350 boxes have been handed over to parish councils.

Phone boxes have been turned into art installations, a shower and even a public toilet.

Westbury's book exchange won £500 from BT in a national competition launched by the telecommunications company to find the most innovative use of a phone box.

Mr Dolby said the parish council have asked residents to come up with ideas as to how the money should be spent.