Book exchange project of the Luther Decade
Photo: photocase/ephsilonBook exchange project of the Luther DecadeDuring its presentation of the motto of the Luther Decade, "In the beginning was the Word" was spelled out in bookshelf-shaped letters. The shelves were filled with altogether 500 books and will be placed in 18 locations, creating book exchange zones of the Luther Decade all over Germany.
On October 27th, the new motto of the Luther Decade, "In the beginning was the Word", will be presented in Berlin. This date also marks the beginning of a nationwide book exchange project, which is to fill the motto of the campaign with life. With the support of 18 partners, books about the Reformation will be sent out into the world. During the presentation, 18 bookshelves, filled with 500 books, will form the motto of the campaign, "In the beginning was the Word". After the event, the shelves will be sent away, creating book exchange zones of the Luther Decade all over Germany. Like 500 years ago, the book exchange project shall bring the message of the Reformation into the world and connect people with each other. Today, this is supported by the internet – then, it was letter press printing that promoted the dissemination of the message of the Reformation. The book exchange project uses both media.
What is book exchange?
Book exchange, also called BookCrossing, is about distributing books in the world and finding books distributed by others. Everybody can participate in the free project in order to get to know new people and to talk about literature. Each book is registered on the website www.bookcrossing.com and receives an individual number. When the book is found, or taken out of a book exchange zone, the finder enters the identification number on the website and can read and add information about the book, for example "How did you like the book?" or "What does the book have to do with the Reformation?". The finder learns who has read the book before and what others think about it, and is able to tell when the book will be "set free" again, either "in the wild", for example on a park bench, or again in a book exchange zone.
What is a book exchange zone?
Book exchange zones are fixed locations where registered books can either be taken or left behind. Of course, books can also be left everywhere "in the wild" during the project. The book exchange zones, however, have the advantage that they offer a large number of books at the same time, and an opportunity to browse. They can be found in coffee shops, libraries, parish centres, schools or other public institutions. The BookCrossing zones of the Luther Decade are 18 bookshelves in the shape of letters.
Who are the 18 partners?
The letter-shaped book exchange zones will be found all over Germany and can be accessed freely at central places, so that as many people as possible are able to participate. The partners will appoint a spokesperson and register their book exchange zone on the website www.bookcrossing.com. The spokesperson enables the smooth running of the project and administers the books. New books must be registered and the stock be checked on a regular basis. At the beginning, each of the partners will receive 28 books for free as the start content of their bookshelf.
