Take a look at what the "mobile library", seen everywhere on the streets of Australia, looks like

On the streets of Sydney, you might come across a mysterious little box here and there. It’s the so-called "mobile library". Old books that have been read are stored in little boxes people have made themselves, and passersby are free to take them. Everyone has reached a consensus: "take a book, leave a book." This way, books piled up in corners get fully used, it helps everyone save a lot of money, and you can also encounter many unexpected titles.

When I first arrived in Australia, while taking my kid for a walk along various streets, I would often see these shared libraries. Some people set up a box outside their door, others installed one on their fence, and inside were full of books.

These are books that the homeowners have already read or no longer want.

If you walk past and spot a book you’re interested in, you can take it home.

Of course, if you have extra books at home that you’ve finished reading, you can also bring them over, put them in the cabinet, and share them with everyone.

Anyone can place books inside, waiting for the next lucky person to take them home.

The books inside are also packed full – some are about music, some about art, and there are novels too – quite interesting.

I think this idea is really great. Actually, the founder of this "mobile library" is just an ordinary Australian guy named Nic. Nic’s biggest hobbies are buying and reading books, and he has a strong emotional attachment to them – he can’t bear to sell or throw away even old ones he’s already read.

But as time went on, the number of books grew, and the problems of storage and preservation became more serious. He had less and less space. Nic was struggling every day with how to solve this problem.

One day, while borrowing books at the library, he saw two kids exchanging comic books. That small act inspired Nic. Why not share idle books with others? That way, books piling up in corners could be fully utilized, people could save a lot of money, and they could also come across many unexpected titles.

Action speaks louder than words. Nic went home and started doing it. Using his mailbox as a model and wood as material, he built a small box with a bookshelf and placed it in front of his house. Then he selected some books he hadn’t touched in a while and put them on the shelf. Just like that, a small "mobile library" took shape!

The neighbors were a bit puzzled about why Nic was doing this. He patiently explained, "I’m sharing books with everyone for free!" Word spread from one person to ten, then from ten to a hundred. Nic’s "mobile library" became famous for miles around. Commuters and kids alike came to visit, sitting on the ground and flipping through the books.

Later, Nic posted the story of himself and the "mobile library" online, and it blew up all over Australia. Everyone agreed with Nic’s idea and started copying it.

So Australians began showcasing their DIY skills – from structure to color to shape, each person created their own unique little "mobile library" box according to their taste. Some looked futuristic, some were full of artistry, others were bold and flashy, and some even repurposed old discarded refrigerators...

And so, the "mobile library" became popular all across Australia, seen everywhere on the streets and lanes.