Have You Tried Bookcrossing?
While looking through a couple of literary sites I came across an amazing site which?I am ashamed to say I had never heard of before. Given that the site boasts over 300 new members each day and that its title has been added to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary as a new word I would have thought I would have happened upon it by now.
Many of you are probably already aware of the BookCrossing site, but for those who aren’t here’s what it’s all about.
Basically?next time?you read a good book that you want to pass on, register it with the bookcrossing site. You will be provided a unique BCID (BookCrossing ID number), which along with the website address you use to label the book. You also have an opportunity to write a journal entry on the book. Once this is done, release the book!
Releasing?a book can be done in many ways. You can give it to a friend and direct them to the website, give it to charity, or simply leave it on a park bench or cafe table.
You will subsequently be notified by email each time someone comes?to the BookCrossing site?and records journal entries for that book. Or to make?the book?easier for fellow BookCrossers to find you can create a release note stating where the book was released allowing others to Go Hunting for it.
When I found this site, I was sure it was an American thing. This sort of thing can’t go on in Northern Ireland right? Wrong! Imagine my surprise to find out that Northern Ireland BookCrossers have released 34 books into the wild in the last 30 days.
So tomorrow I am on my way to Queens University Quadrangle and Film Theatre,?I will then be touring the telephones boxes of both Bradbury Place and The Dublin Road and see what treasures I can find. If anyone beats me to it I’d love to hear what you found!
Thanks for a great article on bookcrossing.com. It’s been my obsession for over 2 years now! Belfast Bookcrossers meet monthly (tonight actually!)at Common Grounds Coffee Shop at 7 pm, and we swap books, talk about books, share ideas for releasing books and generally have a good time! Want to know more? go to http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/bookcrossingni/ Hope to see some of you tonight :0)
peaceangel
Where is the coffe shop? It’s not one I have heard of.
Sorry I didn’t get back to you about the venue as I went offline to go out for a Valentines meal. The answer is in the link http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/bookcrossingni/I put in the message. Next meetup is Tuesday 14th March, but watch the BCNI site for venue as it may be changed.
Anyway, it was a good meetup, lots of interesting books changed hands. Why not join the local online group for a while and get the buzz? I do like the look of this site by the way and will explore it further as I get time.
Best wishes
Norah
I bookcross, its jolly good fun. In fact i’m going to have to bookcross all the books I couldnt sell on my blog
I didn’t know there were a group of Belfast bookcrossers, dare I reveal my secret identity and attend such a soiree?
Common grounds, an ethical coffee shop, is round the back of the theology college at queens. head straight up botanic, university square will be on the right (turn your head right and shout abuse at queens students as you pass). The big theology college (i think its theology on your left) keep going and you come to a turn in the road going left. You go left and keep going. you then come to a big white christian science church, there will be a Spar across the street, common grounds is just there on your left, big trees outside and the odd table.
Its lovely and it’s non profit.
I know the street well JP, in fact Mr Levee and I cohabited in a small dingy flat on that street during our university days!
Thanks Norah, I definately will have a look at the site when i get a minute.
Hi Mrs Levee (where did you get that name?)
Did you by any chance just join BCNI? - somebody did, by name of n*tm*mli*a@******** If so, welcome!
Norah
VOTING STOPS AT MID NIGHT IN THE IRISH BLOGS AWARD. MR LEVEE SAYS VOTE ELBLOGADOR HE COULD BE RIGHT. MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL VOTE ELBLOGADOR. I WILL FOLLO MR LEVEES ADVICE AND VOTE ELBLOGADOR
Oi! That was a dirty trick! You rat Parnell!
OK, just for that, everybody DON’T vote El Blogador, vote Levee Breaks! Honestly, more elections stunts than a Shinner…:)
Mr Levee: Sorry not guilty this time Sir. However as far as election stunts go I do know a little about that. If you need an agent etc.
[...] A few months ago I posted about a fantastic website I had just came across called BookCrossing. [...]
In New york, where i live, i leave books on the bus with a note
telling the receiver to read the book and then to return it to
the “bus library”. I have no idea if anyone actually does
this,i have no way of knowing one way or the other,it’s just
my way of getting rid of books.Seems that someone else had
a similar idea,maybe it’s an Irish thing.I’m originally
from Ireland.
M
Hi Mary
Its not just an Irish thing, it was actually started by an American, Ron Hornbaker, and the site is http://www.bookcrossing.com. There is a great forum for discussing books and all sorts of other things, which is really friendly and stimulating. Why don’t you join? Though I warn you its very addictive!