How to borrow books FREE for as long as you like - even if you don't live near a library

Launched in May 2008, the MSE Charity (registered charity number 1121320) is dedicated to helping people help themselves, by funding activities that make a lasting impact on how people think, behave, and manage their money.

Rather than engaging in any projects itself, the charity offers grants of up to £10,000 to support non-profit organisations, such as social enterprises and registered charities, with specific money education projects. Help is given to a range of projects, from the grassroots to more mainstream charities, with the maximum annual income level for an organisation set at £750,000.

As of June 2024, the MSE Charity made a number of changes to its funding rounds. While it will still run two rounds a year, the following will change:

• No more set themes.

  Former themes were building and developing resilience, living with long-term challenges, raising the next generation, and life changes.

• Wider focus.

  The rounds will now focus more broadly on boosting people's financial capability skills, which aligns better with the charity's long-term goals.

• Grant increase.

  The maximum grant per group will rise to £10,000.

• Two-stage application, rather than one.

  The new first stage is a shorter 'outline' application; the second is a fuller application.

For more detailed info on the new grant process, see the MSE Charity's webpage.

The libraries are popping up worldwide, with 50+ already up and running in the UK – you can check this Little Free Library map to see if there’s one near you, or near where you’re holidaying – saves bringing a book in your luggage. The website also has instructions on how to start your own, and it sells pre-fabricated boxes, though you may be able to make your own, or revamp an existing space (you may need permission from the local council).

In order to appear on the website, and be an ‘official’ Little Free Library, you do have to pay – so some local libraries may not be registered or appear on the official map. It’s worth checking local community Facebook pages and websites to see if you’ve a little library local to you that isn’t yet included on the official map.

Little Free Library is not the only website where you can check for book swapping locations. Another to try is Open bookcase, which also has a map to check for books near you.

Another scheme is Book Crossing, where you don’t need to leave books in any specific location, and you can register your book for free and get a sticker with a code to track where it travels. There are official Book Crossing locations, where you can leave books en masse, or you can ‘wild release’ them and leave them on, eg, a park bench, or public transport.

You can check the Book Crossing map where you can view recent additions, but it’s worldwide and can jump from country to country as new books are added. A more useful way to find books in the UK is to use the Book Crossing UK list, which breaks down where books are released by location so you can narrow it down easily.

If you’re a Londoner, you might’ve heard of Books on the Underground, where people leave stickered books on the Tube for others to pick up. I’ve been working in London for over four years and never seen one, but apparently the trick is to follow Books on the Underground Instagram to see where they’re left.

I’m on the hoarder side when it comes to books, but I’ve donated a few in my quest to be more minimalist. I will admit, I’ve only donated books I didn’t really enjoy – maybe they’re more someone else’s cup of tea, but it’s nice to give them a chance instead of leaving them unloved on my shelf. So far, I’ve donated 15 pristine books I bought new for £1 each, either using offers, from Poundland or charity shops – and picked up seven to read myself.

Remember, while you can keep the books for as long as you want, it is still a lending library – so it would be bad practice to take the books to keep forever or sell on. However, in my experience of using our local library, people have been keeping within the spirit that started it and exchanging books.