Street Libraries and Pop-Up Bookstores: How Nigerians Are Reviving Reading Culture

By Wuraola Adetoro

January 11, 2026

In the heart of Lagos, a small crowd gathers around a bright blue kiosk stacked with books of every kind, from Nigerian novels to self-help guides, poetry collections, and history textbooks. This is not a traditional bookstore; it’s a street library, part of a growing movement of pop-up libraries and micro-bookshops popping up across Nigeria’s cities.

For many young Nigerians, reading has become a pastime reclaimed from the distractions of smartphones and social media. Street libraries like this one, often started by teachers, students, or passionate volunteers, provide affordable or free access to books in neighborhoods that might otherwise lack libraries.  

"I wanted to make books visible,” says Ifeoma Nwankwo, 29, founder of the Lagos street library project. “It’s amazing to see children and adults browsing books they’ve never seen before. Reading can change lives.”

A Movement with Social Impact

These initiatives are more than just bookshelves on the streets. Pop-up libraries and mobile book carts have sprouted in cities like Ibadan, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, reaching communities with limited access to formal education. Some libraries organize reading clubs, storytelling sessions, and book swaps, fostering literacy and critical thinking among youth.

 

The movement is also helping entrepreneurs and local authors gain visibility. Independent writers find in these spaces an audience that traditional bookstores often overlook. Meanwhile, literacy advocates say that exposure to books outside the classroom encourages lifelong learning and creativity.

 

Challenges Along the Way

Funding and space remain major hurdles. Many street libraries operate entirely on donations and volunteer effort. Weather, city regulations, and security concerns can also disrupt operations. Yet, their impact persists, demonstrating that innovation does not always require high-tech solutions, sometimes, a bookshelf and a passionate individual are enough.

The Future of Reading in Nigeria

In a country where digital distractions dominate, these grassroots initiatives are quietly fostering a culture of reading, imagination, and curiosity. For many participants, the street library is more than a collection of books, it’s a place of connection, inspiration, and possibility.

“I see kids from my neighborhood coming everyday,” says Nwankwo. They leave with more than a book, they leave with a world they didn’t know existed.”