Hidden Libraries

“a wonderful testament to the power and endurance of the written word” - The Age

“Bibliophiles will be enthralled” - Publisher's Weekly

“a perfectly on-point present for any reader” - BookPage

Discover 50 of the world's most magnificent hidden libraries - each with a unique and uplifting story to tell - featuring a foreword by librarian, bestselling author, and literary critic Nancy Pearl.

Book swap your latest read in a cool 1950s style fridge in New Zealand or hike through the ethereal woodlands of Eas Mor in Scotland where a hidden library in a small log cabin awaits. Each entry shares the library's mission and impact on the local community and offers fascinating stories from its resident caretaker.

Inside Hidden Libraries: 

• 50 enchanting, obscure and astounding libraries from around the world
• Fascinating insider knowledge and unique stories from each library's resident caretaker
• Captivating photos accompany every entry and the exact location of each hidden library is revealed
• Featured libraries include: North America - Idaho: Little Free Library in a Cottonwood Tree; California: The Prison Library Project. South America - Argentina: The Weapon of Mass Instruction; Colombia: The Biblioburro. Africa - Egypt: St Catherine's Monastery; Mali: The Timbuktu Manuscripts. Asia & the Middle East - China: The Lonely Library; Philippines: Reading Club 2000. Europe - England: Phone Booth Library; Norway: The Future Library. Oceania & Beyond - Antarctica: The Little Free Library at the South Pole; Outer Space: The International Space Station Library
• Written by Diana Helmuth, an award winning author who writes about subjects including travel, nature, and philosophical trends

From the rare to the romantic, this extraordinary guide to our planet's hidden libraries makes the ultimate gift for literature lovers, adventurers, and dreamers alike. Nothing brings people together quite like a good book.

Since 1973, Lonely Planet has been a trusted source for travelers. Today, with nearly 200 million guidebooks in print and more than 1,100 on-the-ground contributors across hundreds of destinations, we're still the world's #1 guidebook publisher. We go everywhere, so you can go anywhere