This summer, a powder blue double-decker bus is popping-up around England bringing books and a literacy campaign. But this bookmobile is unique; it’s also one woman’s personal project and traveling home.  Jam packed with books, plants, recycled furnishings, the big blue book bus is Lindzi Hargrave’s life changing journey.

Lindzi’s library bus is entirely her own project. It’s a home, a community space, a traveling library, and a fresh start. The 38-year-old has transformed an old double-decker bus into an off-grid living space complete with a free library and book swap service. She plans to take it around to festivals and communities to give people access to books and a chance to connect.

In August 2023, she found a double-decker bus on eBay. £18,000. Where the average person would see a logistical headache, she saw a possibility and a life-long dream coming true.

Over the course of 2024, she transformed the vehicle into a fully functioning, off-grid home and traveling library. She installed solar panels, rescued and upcycled furniture, and curated a cozy, book-filled space within the metal walls of her double-decker bus.

Lindzi wants her bus to provide access to books in places where libraries have disappeared, or in places where they’ve become harder to reach. She wants it to function as a community space where people can stop, chat, browse, and connect. She hopes to take her home around the UK for festival season, giving people the chance to engage with books and with one another.