Overview
The “Take a Book, Leave a Book” bookshelf is located in the lobby of one of our buildings. The idea is to make the lobby more welcoming and to have a book exchange system. The instructions on the bookshelf are the following.
- Books are yours to take and leave as you like with no restrictions.
- It works best if materials are taken and donated.
- Note that you do not have to trade in a book to take a book.
There is someone in charge of keeping the bookshelf tidy but anyone can take or leave books. Some of the books have been registered on http://Bookcrossing.com
a website that lets you track books as they travel around. This also connects it to a larger community of book hunters.
The Story
The bookshelf came to be in place almost by accident. As one of the apartment units was being cleaned and a yard sale organized to recirculate the stuff during november of 2006, a bookshelf was placed in the lobby to organize the books temporarily. Some people liked it. It added a good feeling to the lobby and encouraged interaction. The idea was presented during a community meeting to have it permanent and someone suggested it would be a “Take a Book, Leave a Book” bookshelf, as seen in coffe shops, airports and libraries. The bookshelf was approoved as long as it was kept clean and organized.
Links
- federico’s bookshelf at BookCroosing where you can track some of the books.