We are looking at placing a small library, which is accessible by the children themselves (aiming for toddlers through primary school age), outside the toddler area of the playground. After conducting a small poll of parents via parent WhatsApp groups this proved the most popular location.
How it will work
The idea is that children can choose a book and sit on the benches to read, return it to the library, or take it home and bring it back another day.
Fundraising
We are currently exploring the options for the best way to get the library made. Lynne Davies-Craine, who initiated the project, is also in the process of setting up a Crowdfunder page to help raise some funds for the project. The Fairfield Association will be donating the proceeds from this year’s Christmas Eve carol singing to help with the costs.
Motivations
Lynne explained her motivation for starting the library. “I watched an episode of Chanel 4โs Educating Yorkshire, where a year 7 boy (11years old), had a reading age of 5, and it was clear how much he was struggling in school. Iโve worked with teenagers and my whole family are teachers, I know the impact of reduced reading rates, so I felt bringing reading to a place where children already play, might help encourage them to enjoy reading.
“The statistics are quite shocking, and recently The Times have started a โGet Britain Readingโ Campaign, and the Government have named 2026 as The Year of Reading. In 2025, the percentage of children and young people who told us they enjoyed reading was its lowest in 20 years.“
Find out more
You can find out more about Little Free Libraries all over the world on the Little Free Library website.
Image credit
Photo by Nils Huenerfuerst