Residents and visitors to Saundersfoot will have noticed a new addition on the harbour in the form of a nautical themed bookcase.
The Little Free Library is the brainchild of Saundersfoot local, Nina Thomas and Ladan Harper, administrator of the Facebook page ‘Saundersfoot Connect’ which resulted from the realisation of the importance of books during the lockdown.
“The joy of books and reading was never more evident than during the lockdown to alleviate boredom and as a form of escapism,” said Nina.
“With the local library closed I started a book collection and delivery service. When this became too popular a base was set up outside the Mulberry Restaurant in the village where each day for 13 weeks boxes of books were dropped off and collected.”
Indeed, so popular was this service that after the lockdown a location was sought in the village for a permanent little free library.
Nina and Ladan approached the community council who were unable to assist but county councillor Phil Baker, approached the Harbour Commissioners (where he is also a member) who were enthusiastic in their support in finding an ideal spot on the harbour.
The little free library was kindly sponsored by Saundersfoot resident, Geraint Foster of G Force Technologies, and Ladan enlisted the help Norman Industries, a supported business that employs over 60 people with a disability or work limiting health condition, to build the bookcase.
“We are delighted with the bookcase, it’s nautical theme and the expert craftsmanship by Norman Industries surpassed our expectations and we have had so many compliments already, we are over the moon with it,” remarked Ladan.
“If you have books you wish to give just pop them into the bookcase and we want to encourage people to take books too,” she continued.
It is hoped that the little library could be the beginning of a literary based area on the harbour and ideas for a reading and storytelling area are ‘afoot’.
“You never know...our little library could be the acorn from where the big oak grows!” added Nina.