‘Liber’ is the latin for ‘book’, which is why we generally expect a library to contain books. It can be a collection, a building, a room…or even a dedicated shelf. The Lonely Planet has gathered together an astounding selection of book depositories, from Antarctica to Timbuktu. Welcome to the Hidden Libraries: Book Review.

This anthology, deftly curated by travel writer DC Helmuth, introduces diverse tales of obscure, quirky, mysterious, lost and imagined libraries.

Discover libraries in tents, tanks, vending machines, telephone boxes, caves, remote huts and on horse back. Schedule a travel itinerary that takes you to libraries in airports, deserts, forests and by the seaside.

This is a great present if you are participating in Jolabokaflod this season: The Icelandic tradition involves giving and reading books on Christmas Eve. Bliss.

Hidden Libraries: The World’s Most Unusual Book Depositories, by DC Helmuth is published by Lonely Planet.

To receive 10% off your copy from Golden Hare Books, use code bookbinderbookreview42 valid until 23rd December.

AND How to: Make a Library Book for your own collection.