Barnet’s free book shop re-opens by sharing space with another charity in an unlet unit at The Spires Shopping Centre

After yet another move Barnet’s popular free book shop is up and running once again in The Spires Shopping Centre.

Lead volunteer Jackie O’Brien – above right with volunteer Mark Shepherd – says it is brilliant being able offer free books once again after having had to close the shop over Christmas and the New Year.

“This is our fourth move within the centre, but our regulars soon get to know where we are, and we know they love coming in and browsing through our stock.”

The free book shop is sharing a vacant unit with another charity, ADDISS, which provides information and counselling on the attention deficit disorder ADHD.

Because of space restrictions, the shop can only accept limited donations at the moment of just a few books.

“Until we get sorted and secure some storage space, we can only accept a carrier bag of books at a time – and not the trolley load that we sometimes get given by generous supporters.”

The shop’s new location is next to the Barnet Museum display, close to the Coffee Bean café.

It had to close in mid-December when a new tenant – a cake shop – took over the former vacant EE telephone shop which had proved a particularly popular location as it was directly opposite Waitrose.

Global Education Trust, which operates free book shops across the country, takes advantage of the generosity of landlords and is full of praise for the flexibility shown by The Spires in allowing the use of empty retail premises on a temporary basis.

Up to three unwanted books can be taken on any one visit and the stock is replenished with donated books which might otherwise have been pulped or gone to landfill.  

The free book shop is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday.