Westbury-sub-Mendip is a village in Somerset, England

with a population of about 800, situated on the southern slopes of the Mendip Hills half-way between the cathedral city of Wells and the world-famous Cheddar Gorge.

Some time ago the village Parish Council bought a traditional British red phone booth from BT for £1 — and then transformed it into a 24-hour book exchange library:

Villagers can use the library (which stocks about a hundred books) just by leaving there a book they’ve read, swapping it for one they haven’t, therefore the books are constantly changing.

This is an amazing way to reuse a former piece of urban furniture, turning it into a 24-hour service — should be done in all small communities.

[photos by Bob Dolby]