Libraries in telephone booths in Britain Bashny.Net

The iconic red telephone booths, and double Decker buses can be found across the UK. They are gradually out of use and falling into disrepair, but thanks to the efforts of local communities and the company "British Telecom" hundreds of them were converted into a library.





In 2002 in the UK, there were 92 thousand of these phone booths. Currently only 51 of the 500, despite the fact that the classic red of these, only 11 000. In the past 20 years, the company eliminated thousands of iconic booths across the country, as people gradually moved to the use of mobile communications and the Internet.

However, for many cities and villages telephone booth is a part of history and a symbol of the identity of the community. These attractions are an important part of the landscape and character of settlements across the country. People are accustomed to the kennel and don't want to see empty space where they once stood. Many communities lobbied for the law on the conservation of the red boxes because of their historical and aesthetic value. Like the attitude the British have developed to the legendary double-Decker buses that are still used in some parts of the world.









To save a phone booth, which was under threat of demolition, BT began a program called "Take a stand" in 2009. The program enabled local communities and administrative offices to adopt decommissioned telephone boxes in their areas for only 1funt and turn them into unique museums-library. When W receives the statement, they just disassemble the phone and leave the box in place. Since 2009, more than 1,500 booths was transferred to the control and converted into art galleries, cafés, shops, groceries, flower shops and one of the most popular types in the library. Charity Community Heartbeat Trust even installed some of them defibrillators. Thus, You can even save someone's life before coming to the medical team.





Most of these libraries remain open. Anyone can go and borrow a book or DVD, but must replace it with something else. Therefore, the supply of books will always be full. All books, magazines and DVDs were donated by the villagers. The most fantastic thing is how all communities in the country were involved and enthusiastically began to restore its historical heritage.

Red telephone booth was a symbol of British culture from 1920-ies, and now the community has come up with innovative new use for them, despite the lack of a phone inside.









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