Is this the Black Country's smallest library? Dudley mother creates community book exchange in her front garden

When mother-of-two Kate Crook heard there were concerns about the future of Sedgley library, she decided to create a community library in her own front garden.

She launched a crowd-funding appeal to purchase a cabinet, and her children's school stepped in to offer some books.

Langlands Little Library is now open for business outside Mrs Crook's home in Langland Drive, and the 28-year-old said she was delighted by the amount of support she had received from the community.

The library is open for anybody to use, and people are free to just take a book to read, and ideally donate one for somebody else.

"I had the idea when I heard that Sedgley library  was relocating," she said.

"I've got two little ones at Alder Coppice Primary School, they love books and love going to the library.

"With everything going on at the moment, and everything getting more expensive, I thought it was important to make sure everybody had access to books. I also thought if we can get more adults reading books, it will encourage the children.

"I mentioned it to the children's school, and they were really supportive of the idea, and they were good enough to give me some free books."

Mrs Crook said while there was still a public library in the village, she believed the idea of having a small library that parents and children walked past on their way to school would be particularly convenient.

She added that it was almost opposite the shop.

A crowdfunding page raised £200 towards the cost of the cabinet and the registration costs, which also includes the details on the free Little Libraries phone app. Regular updates will also be posted on the Instagram page @langlandslittlelibrary