UAE's Little Free Libraries Foster Community Connections: 'You're Building Bridges'

In Arabian Ranches, Angela Hundal's home has become a hub for young readers. Children frequently gather outside her door, not for play, but to browse the bookshelf and borrow books for free. Hundal is part of a global network of over 200,000 individuals in 128 countries participating in Little Free Library, a non-profit book exchange initiative founded in Wisconsin in 2009 by Todd Bol. Inspired by his teacher mother, the project operates on the principle of 'take a book, share a book.' Participants borrow a book and are encouraged to return it or swap it for another. Currently, approximately six to seven such libraries are active in the UAE.

“It’s a fantastic initiative,” shares Hundal, a senior editor and mother of two, who has always had a passion for reading and writing. “I saw on Instagram that people were setting up their own Little Free Libraries and I was drawn to the idea of a community project where people could freely access books.” After relocating to Arabian Ranches in early 2024, she decided to establish her own, which became operational by November.

The Little Free Library concept, originating in Wisconsin in 2009, was founded by Todd Bol as a tribute to his mother. Participants can purchase official Little Free Library boxes or construct their own. Hundal opted for a more personal approach, acquiring a small bookcase from Ikea and securing it outside her front door. She initially stocked it with a mix of children's and adult books from her personal collection.

“The response was overwhelming, and I received numerous donations,” Hundal recounts. “At one point, the donations were so abundant that my house was overflowing with books. I’ve since created a separate shelf for adult books, with the remaining space dedicated to children’s literature.” She emphasizes the communal nature of the library: “It’s a community library, so I don’t view these as my books or my shelves. It’s truly for the community to access anytime, as it’s open 24/7.”

Second-hand books and book swapping are increasingly popular in the UAE. Several establishments in Dubai offer these services, including Bookends in Silicon Oasis, House of Prose at Times Square Centre, and BookHero at Oasis Mall, providing pre-loved titles at a fraction of the cost of new ones. Additionally, the Spill The Bean coffee shop in Sustainable City features an informal book exchange corner.

In Abu Dhabi, the Book Nook at Reem Mall and the Third Place Cafe in Al Bateen offer curated selections of pre-loved books. Hundal maintains a WhatsApp group for her Little Free Library, facilitating book requests and updates on new arrivals. She has also engaged local children in managing the library, though many of her initial young helpers have grown up. “I used to have about six kids who would help me tidy up and sort the books out, but they are in their early teens now, so they are not around as much. Now I need some new stewards, and I’m going to put a call out soon for those who want to help.”

Hundal, a recipient of the 2022 Emirates Literary Festival award for her book 'Honey Tiger,' has noted a surprising interest from teenagers seeking books for their age group. “Interestingly, a lot of teenagers come to browse but I have a shortage of books for middle school to young adult age,” she observes. “So, I see a gap there. It’s really nice to hear that young teens are coming and saying: ‘We want to read, what do you have for us?’ That's really heartening.”

She advocates for the