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Tree Became a Library (+9 More Book Artworks)
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
In the quiet Dutch village of Ruurlo, a centuries-old chestnut tree has been transformed into something unexpected: a public library. Masterfully adapted by carpenter Rene Bruns, this open-air book haven now offers shelves of literature nestled inside the gnarled remains of the historic tree. With its glass-fronted wooden bookcases seamlessly embedded in the trunk, it’s become a beloved local spot—and a global inspiration. In this post, we begin with the Ruurlo tree library and will later explore more stunning examples where books and creativity meet in public space.
More!: 11 Public Book Spots We Love (Do it Yourself?)
1. The Tree Library — Rene Bruns in Ruurlo, Netherlands
This open-air library is built into the trunk of a giant, weathered chestnut tree, with eight custom-fit wooden cabinets inset into the wood. Each cabinet is protected by a framed glass door and filled with community-donated books. The curved shape of the tree trunk was preserved, giving the structure a natural, flowing design that blends into its rural surroundings.
2. Bookshelf Building — JanIsDeMan in Solnechnodolsk, Russia
A full side of an apartment building is transformed into a 3D bookshelf mural. Painted with impressive depth and shadow, it features shelves of oversized books in Russian, a Matryoshka doll, a castle model, and even a glass. The work celebrates literacy and identity through cultural references.
More by JanIsDeMan!: 8 Happy 3D Artworks by Jan Is De Man That Will Make You Smile
3. Book Benches
Benches shaped like open books line this public square. Each one features printed text across the “pages,” giving visitors the illusion of reading while they sit. The design encourages a literal pause for thought.
4. Nadine’s Evening of Adventure — David Zinn in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
A chalk drawing by David Zinn under a flowerpot transforms a simple corner into a magical vignette. A small mouse sits beneath the pot, lit as if it’s a lamp, reading a book in quiet solitude.
More by David Zinn: Street Art by Happiness Maker David Zinn (21 Photos)
5. The Bibliomoto — Mobile Library in Basilicata, Italy
This converted three-wheeled van has become a moving library, stocked with shelves of books and protected by a tiled roof. Known locally as the Bibliomoto, it brings literature to the streets of southern Italy.
6. Jimbocho Book Alley — Tokyo, Japan
An outdoor aisle of bookcases in Tokyo’s Jimbocho neighborhood, known as a haven for secondhand booksellers. Here, books line the walls of narrow alleys, inviting passersby to stop and browse.
7. Life is an Open Book — Brad Spencer in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
A brick sculpture shows children emerging from a vertical wall, climbing and playing as if breaking free from the structure. It’s both a metaphor for education and a statement on public imagination.
8. Upside Down Reader — Zabou in Moutiers, France
Painted on the underside of a building ledge, this mural by Zabou features a woman absorbed in a book, lying in a field of dandelions.
9. It’s Easy, Just Open a Book — HERA in Vincennes, France
This mural wraps around a bookstore facade, with a large red fox curled protectively around a child who reads inside its tail. A second child holds on to the fox’s tail, and text on the wall reads: “It’s easy. Just open a book.”
More!: HERA – Crafting Stories on Walls Around the World
10. The Boat Library — Puglia, Italy
An old fishing boat is upcycled into a seaside bookshelf. Set against the Adriatic coast, the boat’s painted interior holds dozens of books, inviting visitors to “take a book, leave a book.”
Which one is your favorite?
11 Public Book Spots We Love (Do it Yourself?)
From seaside coves in Italy to quiet backstreets in Japan, books have found their way into every corner of the world—not in shelves, but on wheels, in boats, in birdhouses, and even inside bronze sculptures. On this World Book Day, we’re celebrating the creative ways communities across the globe have made reading accessible, visual, and beautifully public. Here are 11 imaginative public book spots that combine charm, art, and the joy of sharing stories—no library card needed.
More birds!: 10 Street Art Masterpieces That Will Make You Fall in Love with Books Again
The Boat Library in Puglia, Italy
A flipped fishing boat becomes a coastal bookshelf along the Adriatic Sea in Southern Italy. Bright green and red, it invites visitors with painted phrases encouraging reading, love, and peace. The bottom reads, “Take a book, leave a book.”
Biblioteca Mini
This minimalist mini-library stands directly on the beach sand, shaped like a white house with blue windows and a red roof. The word “Biblioteca” is clearly visible, welcoming sunbathers to read.
Bibliomoto in Basilicata, Italy
Known as “Il Bibliomotocarro”, this three-wheeled mini-truck is a mobile library covered with glass panels and bookshelves, topped with a tiled roof. It travels to remote villages, bringing books to children and elderly readers.
Lakeside Sculpture Library
A sculptural bronze-like lighthouse stands by a lake—its interior packed with books. The weathered patina gives it a historic feel, blending public art and literature seamlessly.
Wagon Library
Mounted on red wooden wheels, this bright red wagon is packed wall-to-wall with books. Located in a public park, it blends rural nostalgia with literary abundance.
Jimbocho Book Alley in Tokyo, Japan
Stretching along a quiet alley in the heart of Tokyo, rows of bookcases filled with second-hand Japanese literature form a literary corridor in this famous bookstore district.
Little Library
This mini library near a lake blends perfectly with its wooded surroundings. Blue trim and shingled roof give it a cozy, handcrafted vibe, inviting quiet book exchanges.
Free Books Box in the UK
Simple but powerful, this cardboard box labeled “Free Books – Help Yourself” rests casually on the sidewalk, filled with thrillers and novels for anyone to grab.
Children’s Library
This dollhouse-like “Cherry Tree Children’s Library” is filled with colorful children’s books and tiny doll furniture. A literal storybook home.
Forest Edge Library in Nova Scotia, Canada
Nestled in a piney landscape, this deep-blue book hut holds everything from cookbooks to comics. It’s part of the global Little Free Library network.
Little Free Library
This wooden, house-shaped box with a natural finish and black trim is a classic example of a registered Little Free Library. Tucked among green shrubbery, it blends perfectly into its leafy surroundings.On World Book Day, these public bookshelves remind us that literature doesn’t just belong in formal libraries—it thrives in wagons, beaches, alleys, and handmade wooden boxes. Each one carries not just stories in their pages but the spirit of community, sharing, and freedom of access. Wherever you are in the world, there might be a book waiting for you around the next corner.
More: Cutest Bookstore on Wheels (7 photos)
Which one is your favorite?
