As well as simply raising funds for charities throughout the UK, the Street Library hopes to reignite the reading desire in people.

People who might not have read a book since their schooldays (when reading was not done by choice). And people who are only ever to be found in a bookshop on Christmas Eve – in a last-ditch attempt to find a decent Christmas present for a loved one.

So, with all financial barriers to reading removed, and by freely finding just one book, the hope is that their reading desire is reawakened. And buying other books then becomes the first item on all future shopping lists.

More specifically though, finding that one book may just have introduced these new readers to their new favourite author as well. And as the first book was actually free, they’re then more-inclined to actually buy their next book – as it’s really a “two-for-one” deal overall.