July 19, 2005
One more
Sometimes, you find jewels in unexpected places. On BBC last night, I ran across something really cool. The site is called BookCrossing and it's a book-share meme, but one with a twist.
bookcrossing n. the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise.
So, you read a book, you register with the site, register your book (you get a unique tracking number for it), and then you leave the book somewhere to be found. You can go hunting for books that have been released in your neighborhood, you can see who picked up your book, track its progress around the world... if it ever gets that far. Chances are, someone picks it up who doesn't care a dime about the concept. But, never mind. I think it rocks. Gives good karma, too.
There is a book floating around in Bucharest, and if you're in the US or Germany, there are loads of them everywhere. 12 alone in Brooklyn! Carlos? What are you doing today?
Posted by claudia at July 19, 2005 09:01 AMShelving, sorting, selling, mailing.
I found on the street a page of Euripides and a copy of Martin Luther's treatises (which doesn't include On the Lying Cheating Hurting Hordes of Peasants or Jews: Threat or Menace?, dammit).
I love this town.
Posted by: Carlos at July 19, 2005 02:06 PMI'm so glad to find your blog. I'll be visiting Bucharest for the first time from the US in just a few weeks.
Posted by: TJ at July 19, 2005 09:02 PMThanks for the link: It's a high tech version of the hostelling-books meme, in which the reader would leave a paperbook with his (or her) name inside and a note to "pass it on."
Posted by: Carbonel at July 20, 2005 05:04 AMI saw lots of folks doing this at the last few WorldCons, leaving books on counters in the ladies' lounge, on tables beside chairs in hotels, etc. They seemed pretty excited about it, too.
Posted by: filkferengi at July 20, 2005 06:10 AMI've done it. Left three so far, and found one (not intended!). Apparently there are a lot around here in Ottawa too.
I think it's a neat concept, and would be great if it caught on more!
Posted by: Ange. at July 26, 2005 03:15 PMHmph. Another nail in the coffin of the independent publisher. :)
Were it not for vested interest, I would love the idea of course.
Posted by: John Montague at July 28, 2005 02:15 PMI realize this is a very ld entry, but I'm just catching up. Glad to know there are actually some people in Romania that have heard of Bookcrossing and liked the idea :)
There are 2 of my books in the wild somewhere in Bucharest... (not journaled yet, actually, I've seen people pick them up). Most books don't get journaled, like you guessed, but (at least on the website) there are more productive ways of sharing your books: trading, loaning, giving as presents. It rocks.
Posted by: Jen at November 15, 2005 02:35 PM