A once-forgotten phone box in Sheffield has been transformed into a thriving “Hidden Library,” offering free access to books and inspiring a community to rediscover reading.
Melissa Leeming started the library in 2021 on Fulwood Road as a way to raise money for her London marathon charity (Kidney Care UK) by planting books around parks and places throughout Sheffield.
Local business Ant Marketing offered the phone box to create a book exchange after seeing the wrapped up books Miss Leeming had placed around the city.
Although the library was originally created as a way to give back to the community, Miss Leeming, 29, said: “The aim of the library now is to make reading much more accessible to everyone.”
“Only after I started the library did it become very clear that accessibility to books/reading is a massive issue which impacts so many areas of life.”
The library hosts a range of books including some literary prize winners, classics and modern books from around the world. The books are sourced through a range of donations from family, friends and the local community.
Miss Leeming said: “I have learnt to be brave and just ask people and places if they are willing to donate some books. Sometimes they say yes and sometimes they say no, but it’s worth the ask.”
The community has embraced the library and responded positively, Miss Leeming said: “It makes me so happy when I receive messages from people telling me they have visited the library and have dropped off books/picked some up.”
As 2026 is National Reading Year, Miss Leeming wants to make steps to contribute towards making reading more accessible: “My immediate plan is to work with the local council to discuss accessibility to reading and to create a project that breaks down those barriers to reading in young children/adults.”
One of the biggest challenges with the library has been the maintenance of the phone box because of its structure: “The phone box is quite old and a bit vandalised. I would love to give it a full refresh (which is in my plan for this year), but I also work a full time job so it’s finding the time and funding to do so.”.
