The Hexham library team first encountered the town's community cargo bike during a local Net Zero fair. While initially unsure of its relevance to library activities, it soon became clear that the bike could support outreach work and help towards achieving the library's mission to promote reading, wellbeing, and green living in Hexham.
In the spring of 2025, with the library closed temporarily for maintenance, staff trialled a library “pop-up” in public spaces, loading up books and resources and setting out to share them with the community.
The bike proved a hit with the public. Conversations were sparked as passers-by stopped to find out more about the library and its use of the bike. The presence of the bike, complete with a library-branded flag, made the library visible in new, unexpected places, from busy streets to community gardens.
Key benefits of using the cargo bike for library outreach included:
Enabling access to areas that cars couldn’t reach, such as the community garden
Making short trips easier by avoiding a need to load and unload a vehicle and find parking
Bringing visibility to the library and helping to reach new audiences
Sparking conversations and connections with the community
Demonstrating the feasibility of using cargo bikes to transport heavier goods in rural settings like Hexham.
Initially, we lacked confidence riding the bike and were unfamiliar with its size and shape. The cargo bike felt heavy at first, but confidence came quite quickly with use.
The training, provided by Cycling 4 Everyone, was brief but effective, and the battery power-assist helped with transporting the books up and down Hexham's many hills.
The idea of responsibility and risk assessment for more staff and volunteers remains a consideration for wider adoption.
Don’t be scared—just try it!
Training is vital. Skills and confidence develop quickly, but it's worth practising a little before hitting the road
Think outside the box to find ways that the cargo bike can be useful and inspire greener activities.
Let the bike help tell your story. For us, the cargo bike made people smile, and helped us find new ways to engage with our local community.
The potential for using the cargo bike for library outreach is growing. There are plans to integrate the cargo bike into our annual summer reading challenge for children during the school holidays. We will be visiting community centres and gardens for outdoor story-times and craft sessions.
There’s also appetite for using the bike for home deliveries of books and cross-library initiatives.
We have worked closely with the following organisations and individuals:
Hexham also has a community cargo bike for public use, provided by Northumberland County Council.
“This is just the beginning. It plants a seed—we’ve seen how the cargo bike can work here, and we’re excited to see how it might grow.”
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