BookCrossing
In the 21st century, books are not regarded as the rare and precious items they were 500 years ago when the printing press was first invented. Today, books are bought and sold, swapped and shared, every minute of the day. Literacy rates have improved dramatically in the western world and public libraries provide free access to a world of reading.
The idea of BookCrossing was launched in the USA in 2001. It is an innovative attempt to make the whole world a library. This global movement encourages people to read books, release them ‘into the wild’ and then follow their journey and the lives they touch via the website www.bookcrossing.com [new window]
There are over 4 million books in circulation and over 567,000 BookCrossers registered in the world. Australia is the fourth largest BookCrossing country after the USA, Canada and the UK. A BookCrossing convention is held in Australia every year.
Books can be released in any public place: cafes, train stations, doctor’s waiting rooms. Infozone on level 1 of the State Library of Queensland is now registered as an official BookCrossing zone.
BookCrossing.com produces a range of bookplates that explain how BookCrossing works and that the book is not owned by anyone but is freely available to whoever picks it up. In this way, the BookCrossing bookplate performs the opposite role to that of a traditional bookplate. These books have passports.
"A book is not only a friend, it makes friends for you. When you have possessed a book with mind and spirit, you are enriched. But when you pass it on you are enriched threefold" - Henry Miller (1891-1980).
Last updated: 16th January 2012
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