The community benefits of second-hand book swaps in the UAE: 'You’re creating connections'
On any given day, Angela Hundal might have a handful of children outside her Arabian Ranches home. Not playing or loitering, but quietly perusing the titles on the bookcase by her front door before deciding which one to borrow for free. Hundal is one of more than 200,000 people across 128 countries who have set up a Little Free Library, the non-profit free book exchange started in Wisconsin in…
Every day, a handful of children may gather outside Angela Hundal's Arabian Ranches home, not for play or loitering, but to browse the titles on her front door bookcase before choosing a free book to borrow. Hundal is among more than 200,000 individuals across 128 countries who have established a Little Free Library, a non-profit free book exchange initiative founded in 2009 by Todd Bol in Wisconsin. This concept, "take a book, share a book," encourages users to borrow a book and return it or swap it for one of their own.
Currently, there are about six or seven Little Free Libraries operating in the UAE. Hundal, a senior editor and mother of two, started her library in early 2024 after moving to Arabian Ranches. She set up the library with a small bookcase from Ikea, securing it outside her front door and filling it with children's and adult books. The library operates 24-7, seven days a week, and Hundal encourages community members to use it at any time.
Hundal has created WhatsApp groups for participants to request specific books or inquire when new titles arrive. She also involves neighborhood children in tidying and sorting the books. Despite Hindu's efforts, there's a shortage of books suitable for middle school to young adult readers, prompting her to seek new volunteers to help manage the collection.
Hundal emphasizes the "swap" aspect of the library to maintain fresh content and refrains from tracking usage numbers. Instead, she considers one use per day as a measure of success. She adds seasonal decorations and hosts themed readings to celebrate cultural events like Diwali, Ramadan, and Christmas. Hundal believes that creating such a community space fosters connections among people, stating, "When you put something out there, people come."
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