What Should be Done With The World's Telephone Booths?   

  A change in use that started in both London and New York is now taking hold here in Ticino as well. Again today, for the second time in the past few weeks I've come across a phone booth that's been turned into a miniature library!  

 The glory days of the once beloved phone booth are now over. I mean, when was the last time you actually saw someone use one? The reason for their disuse is obvious but are we really ready to let them become part of forgotten history?  

I saw this little beauty today in Bellinzona. It's the second one I've seen so far! Photo by @kus-knee

Here's another example of one that's been embellished with a painting. it can be found near me in Morbio Inferiore. Photo Credit.

 Telephone Booths as Miniature Libraries  

  It's uncertain whether or not this idea started in London but many of their famous red booths now contain books.  

  In New York, the architect John Locke didn't want to lose these iconic objects of the city and so he pushed for some of them to be reconfigured as miniature libraries.  Locke discovered that the right location was important. His first version had all the books gone within 6 hours and within a week the shelving was stolen! Sad!

The idea with these libraries is that people are free to take books and to make other books available.

Here's an example of one of architect Locke's installations. Photo credit

 Phone Booths In Switzerland  

•  As of 2018 a federal law requiring each township to have at least on public phone booth will be eliminated!
• According to a census done in 2015 0nly 1.8% of those queried had used a public booth in the past 12 months and none of them were between 15 and 29 years of age! 
• At the end of 2014 there were 5,678 phone booth in Switzerland and at the end of 2016 that number was down to 3,105.  
• In Ticino, the part of Switzerland where I live, there are now 16 phone booth libraries and counting!

The World's Least Used Phone Both?  

  The town of  Braggio in southern Switzerland, which boasts 70 inhabitants was required by law to supply a public phone booth. On average, in 205-2016  it was used a whopping total of two times per year and brought in a grand total of about $1.60!

What About You?

• Do you like this idea?
• Have you seen one of these miniature libraries?
• Would you find them useful if there were any in your area?
• Would this type of honor system work where you live?

I hope that you enjoyed this article about "New Life For The Poor Old Obsolete Phone Booth!"

Until next time,

@kus-knee (The Old Dog)

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