Design
A Library Without the Building
A handful of new programs offer books in public spaces to anyone who wants them
In 2007, Colin McMullan started the Corner Library Project. The program title is actually quite literal - McMullan installs small, weatherproof sheds on street corners in cities like New Haven and Brooklyn. Inside are collections of books accessible to members and curated by the community.
The original New Haven project came out of McMullan’s longtime affinity for public libraries. "My mother and father both work in public libraries," says McMullan, a handyman and artist who now lives in Williamsburg. "I love that we have a public institution that is based around the idea of sharing resources equitably with everyone."