Southgate Library was one of seven in Enfield closed last year but Maggie Brookes-Butt wants to help local residents continue to access books in the area

Maggie with the new book exchange outside her house in High Street, Southgate

A Southgate novelist has installed a miniature library outside her house – to help make up for the loss of the full-scale version last year.

Maggie Brookes-Butt, whose novels include The Prisoner’s Wife and Acts of Love and War, campaigned to save Southgate Library after its closure was announced in 2024 by Enfield Council, as part of the sweeping cuts to its library service, with seven branches eventually axed last summer.

Now, Maggie and husband Tim have taken the proactive step of building and installing their own book exchange on the front wall of their property – which just so happens to be a couple of doors down from the now-closed Southgate Library, in High Street.

“It was dreadful that seven libraries have closed,” Maggie, who is also a former journalist and lecturer, told the Dispatch.

“Real libraries give space for children to do their homework and use computers and are a community hub for people.”

Despite the loss of the library, Maggie was determined to try to continue providing a book-lending service in the area.

“Book lending is a lovely thing, and I am grateful to my husband for building it [the mini library].

“We are delighted to have the book exchange on the wall and people are very welcome to bring a book and take a book – it is based on trust.”

The miniature library was only installed on Saturday (17^th) but already Maggie has noticed many people are using it.

Explaining how the idea came about, she added: “I was so upset about the library closing, so when [husband] Tim asked what I wanted for Christmas, I said I wanted a book exchange! He decided to make it for me.

“Now hopefully it will be there for a long time – people have been saying nice things about it.”

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