A much-loved community book exchange is set to reopen in Stockbridge next week after its original structure was destroyed by storms.
The Stockbridge Little Free Library will officially reopen on Tuesday, September 8, returning to its familiar spot in the Edinburgh neighbourhood.
The library was first installed in 2016 by bookbinder and artist Rachel Hazell, known as The Travelling Bookbinder, and quickly became a popular fixture among residents and visitors.
It provides a rotating selection of books for people of all ages and interests, operating on the principle of “Take a book, share a Book”.
The original library was destroyed beyond repair during storms in January 2025, leaving the site empty for more than a year.
Ms Hazell began looking for someone who could create a replacement that would be accessible and welcoming while also being able to withstand Scotland’s weather.
She eventually commissioned Mull-based boatbuilder Yann Jameson to build the new structure.
The replacement library has been made from locally sourced larch and finished with three coats of marine-grade oil to provide additional protection from the elements.
The reopening coincides with the National Year of Reading 2026 and forms part of the wider Little Free Library movement.
The global movement began in 2009 and has since grown to more than 200,000 Little Free Libraries across 128 countries.
The movement was inspired in part by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who funded the creation of 2,509 free public libraries across the English-speaking world around the turn of the 20th century.
The library will continue to be informally managed and stocked by Ms Hazell, with books regularly appearing and being taken by members of the community.
It is free for everyone to use.
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Rachel Hazell, who installed the original library in 2016, said: "When I first installed the library in 2016, the idea was simply to share books I’d loved and to support my belief that everyone has a book inside them.
"Over the years it became something much bigger than that, particularly during lockdown, when people told me it was a source of comfort, connection and escape.
"When it was destroyed in the storms, I was heartbroken.
"It’s taken longer than I’d hoped to find the right person to build a replacement, but Yann has created something truly special and robust.
"I’m absolutely delighted to see it return.
"It belongs to the community as much as it does to me, and I can’t wait to see people using it again."
Stockbridge resident Barbara said: "It’s been strange walking past the empty spot all year.
"The library was always a nice excuse to stop for a minute, get my bearings and see what’s new.
"Glad to have it back, and it looks better built than ever – very smart."
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