Banbury’s Phone Box Library creates event for World Book Day

Banbury’s Phone Box Library, has decided to mark World Book Day - Thursday March 4 - by compiling a list of books that they think everyone will enjoy. (photo from the Banbury Phone Box Library Facebook page with permission)

With schools still closed for all but the most vulnerable children, celebrations across Banburyshire for this year’s World Book Day are likely to be muted this year.

Usually, the day is a great way to celebrate reading and sometimes even an excuse for children to dress up as their favourite character from literature. This year though, everyone will need to find a different way to celebrate.

Tom Christy, who started the book share scheme in the phone box outside St John’s Church on South Bar six years ago said: “We’ve been trying to figure out something we can do to mark the day, that can celebrate reading and community and everything else we stand for.”

People have started listing their favourite books in the comments of Banbury Phone Box Library's Facebook page. So far they have more than 150 names of favourite books for the community. The list has already generated lots of interest on social media, with everything from A. A. Milne to Margaret Atwood represented.

Tom will publish the complete list on World Book Day, Thursday March 4, on the Banbury Phone Box Library’s Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/phoneboxlibrary/ ) and Instagram pages.

Tom added: “Anyone who wants to can throw a title (or five) of their own in. Maybe we'll get to a hundred by World Book Day, maybe a thousand. Maybe it'll just be seventy five.

"But it'd be pretty cool if we could all come together on this, at a time when life is keeping us apart. It will be great to come up with a list which we can declare with integrity and a sense of community and pride that these are the books that are the most important to us. Whatever’s on the list, it’s going to be a great snapshot of the people of Banbury and of our community during the pandemic.

"Banbury’s Phone Box Library was officially opened in July 2015 after BT donated a brand new phone box to Banbury Town Council for the express purpose of offering a book share scheme to residents of the town.

"It has continued to be popular since then, with people regularly donating books for others to borrow and enjoy. It has become a hidden tourist attraction for the town and continues to be open 24-hours a day, 365 days of the year for anyone who enjoys reading.

"If any of our readers are looking for something special to do on World Book Day, then visiting the phone box and helping yourself to a book could be a great way to start!"