Eileen's Library
Books by women, for women.
Because women have a voice.
Because books are just wonderful.
Eileen's Library is a community project creating permanent libraries in women's services and women-only spaces across the UK.
By donating books written by women, sourcing bookshelves and working with local volunteers, we create welcoming libraries where women can freely discover stories, knowledge and the voices of other women.
Every library is free to the organisation that hosts it. Every shelf becomes a place of learning, comfort and connection.
Who is Eileen?
Eileen Macdonald was a primary school teacher from Glasgow who loved books, teaching and life. She was my mother-in-law, but above all she was an inspiration.
Strong, intelligent, funny, warm, creative and caring, Eileen had an extraordinary ability to make people feel at home. She was, at times, almost irritatingly perfect.
Eileen died in 2020. Afterwards, her son, our children and I moved into her home. She was everywhere and so were her books.
She had been an avid reader since childhood. We still have her treasured copy of Anne of Green Gables, which now belongs to my daughter. Books lined the shelves, filled every room and were often stacked in cheerful piles because she had simply run out of space. She belonged to book clubs, loved sharing recommendations and believed, quite simply, that books were wonderful.
Widowed at a young age, Eileen raised two boys on her own while teaching. She faced life with resilience, humour and kindness. To her grandchildren, she was a wonderful combination of Mary Poppins and grandmother, and always arriving with another story to read and another book to give.
I miss Eileen deeply. We shared a love of opera, and we both loved reading women writers, a common favourite of ours was Isabel Allende. After moving to Glasgow, I changed careers and became a support worker. Through that work I came to understand another layer of invisibility experienced by women, and I found myself trying, in whatever ways I could, to make the spaces they used feel warmer, safer and more welcoming.
As a feminist, I am also aware that women's voices and women's writing are still too often overlooked.
Eileen believed that books are wonderful.
I believe that women have voices.
Eileen's Library brings those two beliefs together.
Every Eileen's Library honours Eileen's love of reading while creating spaces where women's voices can continue to be heard, shared and celebrated.
Mara Ricoy Olariaga, founder of Eileen's Library
Contact us
No matter how you'd like to support Eileen's Library, we're here to help.
From a single book to a new library, every conversation has the potential to start a new chapter while supporting women's voices.
Questions you might have...
Do I need lots of books to donate?
No. Whether it's one book or one hundred, every donation helps build an Eileen's Library.
What books do you accept?
We accept books written by women in good condition on any topic. Every donation is carefully curated before being placed in a library.
What organisations can host an Eileen's Library?
We work with women's services and women-only spaces, including refuges, women's centres, supported accommodation and other organisations supporting women.
Do I need to donate a bookshelf?
No. Books, bookshelves, volunteering and introductions to organisations all help the project grow.
Can I start an Eileen's Library in my area?
Yes. If you'd like to volunteer and become the local contact for an Eileen's Library, we'd love to hear from you.
Is there a cost to host an Eileen's Library?
No. Our aim is to provide libraries free of charge through donations and local volunteers.
Why books by women?
Eileen's Library celebrates women's voices by creating collections of books written by women, for women. Our aim is to increase access to women's stories, experiences and ideas in the spaces where women are supported.