Portable Library

In this captivating scene from 1930s London, a woman strolls the streets with an entire library strapped to her back—an early and charming predecessor of today’s e-books and mobile reading apps. The image captures another woman selecting a title, embodying a time when access to literature was being creatively democratized.

Portable libraries like this were not just novelties—they were part of a larger movement to bring books to the public, especially in urban centres during the interwar years. With rising literacy and a growing middle class, initiatives to promote reading flourished, and this mobile solution was as practical as it was eye-catching.

📚 Have you ever seen bookmobiles or unusual ways of sharing knowledge in your town’s past? Share your historic photos on OldPik.com and help keep these clever ideas alive!

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