Pop-up community library installed outside Rathcoole Garda Station

A POP-UP community library has been installed at a local Garda Station, encouraging people in the area to leave a book and take a book to enjoy.

The outdoor pop-up library filled with books for all ages was installed outside Rathcoole Garda Station on Wednesday, July 7.

The hand-made project was a kind donation from the Millrace and District Residents Association with help from community Garda Tom Grace to the community of Rathcoole.

Speaking with The Echo, organiser of the outdoor library project and founder of Millrace and District Residents Association, Sue Dorgan said that she got the inspiration from a picture of a similar project.

She siad: “One of the members of the association had shown me a picture that she had come across of an outdoor library and I kind of ran with it then.

The pop-up library outside Rathcoole Garda Station

“I got it made and we decided the best place to put it would be the Garda station. It is all hand-made and we are looking at getting a bench for people to sit and read near it. Hopefully it does catch on because it is good for the community.”

People are encouraged to come along and donate books they no longer need and to swap them for ones in the community library to enjoy and Sue said that the feedback so far has been fantastic.

“We put some adults books and a lot of children’s books in it, and I was speaking with the community guard this morning and he said all of the children’s books are gone so that is a good sign that the children are using them, and we will just get more.

“It seems to be a really good fit and it is just that community spirit and having that relationship with the guards – it is for the community,” said Sue.