Manchester Library Trail

Manchester Library Trail is a community initiative supporting a network of little free libraries across Greater Manchester, making books freely accessible to everyone with no barriers, no borrowing fees and no opening times to worry about. 

Manchester Library Trail | Free Library Trail in Manchester

• Opening Hours: Little libraries on the trail are accessible at all times

• Location: Libraries across Greater Manchester — use the trail maps to find your nearest!

• Suitable for: All ages

• Booking: Free — no booking required

• Website: https://www.manchesterlibrarytrail.com

• Contact: manchesterlibrarytrail@gmail.com

Manchester Library Trail began with a single little free library in Burnage in August 2020 and has since grown into a brilliant community-led network of little libraries right across Greater Manchester. The libraries come in all shapes and sizes — tucked outside people's homes, inside cafés, in community spaces and other publicly accessible spots — all united by a single aim: books without barriers.

The trail supports its little libraries by offering advice, resources and books, and works to ensure that reading is freely available in every community, at any time of day. Anyone can use the interactive trail maps on the website to find little libraries near them, whether they want to browse a shelf, leave a book or simply discover what's nearby. The trail is funded in 2025 by Mewburn Ellis and welcomes donations of books by email.

As well as the physical trail, Manchester Library Trail runs a lively online book club open to all, hosts community events throughout the year, and publishes a Books Without Barriers blog. Anyone interested in setting up their own little library — or getting an existing one added to the maps — is encouraged to get in touch directly.

Photo credit: Manchester Library Trail