Searching for the soul of the city
What is this bookcase doing here?
By Jeroen Laven
30-08-2006 /views: 1446 in past 12 months.
Jogging along the river Rhine in Bonn this morning I suddenly saw this strange bookcase. Almost like a statue.
Photos by Jeroen Laven
I stopped for a few minutes to take a look, and to my surprise people came and went, bringing and collecting books. I like it! I want one in Rotterdam, where I live! This bookcase is a very stylish one, but it’s not alone. All over the world there are places where people exchange books. The famous international Bookcrossing-network has 21 one exchange points in Bonn today, although non as beautiful as the one along the river. Bookcrossing is of course not the only network dedicated to the free exchange of books in public spaces. For instance in the Netherlands and Belgium you have Wildeboeken (Wild books). Other networks are not dedicated to this kind of book-exchange but do it nevertheless. An interesting one is the site “learn more about 43 things”. That site tries/helps to inspire people to do something with their life. Set goals, achieve them! And – yes- some people’s goals turn out to be to exchange books. Fair play to them!
If you know more surprising bookcases in public space, let us know on Inspiring Cities!
If you know more surprising bookcases in public space, let us know on Inspiring Cities!
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