Villagers come up with novelidea for a phone box 'library'

VILLAGERS whose public phone kiosk was on borrowed time have given the box a new lease of life – as what could be Britain’s smallest library.

The telephone box in Marton cum Grafton, between York and Harrogate, has been a lifeline to the community since long before mobile phones were just expensive toys for stockbrokers.

But the kiosk faced becoming the latest casualty of the communications revolution when BT called time on the public service at the Grafton end of the village.

Now Marton cum Grafton Parish Council has bought the former telephone box in the village for 1 from BT, and it has been suggested by residents that one use could be as a book exchange.

During a three-month trial, villagers fed up of library fines will be able to leave books they have already read in the phone box, and pick up one left by someone else.

The clerk to the parish council, Lynda Bullus, said: “Residents are welcome to drop in books they think others will enjoy, or dip into those that have been put in the box.

“The door is a bit stiff – but it is open for use for anyone from Marton or Grafton.”

As reported by the Yorkshire Post, British Telecom has been negotiating with communities in many rural areas to see if they want to “adopt” kiosks which could then be put to various uses.

Telecom officials claim many of the kiosks are not used much, if at all – but they want to give communities the chance to retain them.

Villagers in Draughton in the Yorkshire Dales use their phone kiosk to collect groceries and newspapers left there by a newsagent based four miles away.