Book exchange project of the Luther Decade: around the world since 100 days
Photo: Photocase/luxuzPutting one's noses in a book together: book exchange brings shared reading pleasure.Exactly 100 days ago, 500 books about the Reformation have begun their journey all the way through Germany and around the world. On the occasion of the presentation of the motto of the Decade, "In the beginning was the word" on October 27th, 2011, 18 bookshelves had been distributed to 18 partners in different cities.
Exactly 100 days ago, 500 books about the Reformation have begun their journey all the way through Germany and around the world. On the occasion of the presentation of the motto of the Decade, "In the beginning was the word" on October 27th, 2011, 18 bookshelves in the shapes of the motto's letters had been distributed to 18 Partners in different cities.
In the meantime all these bookshelves – some of which have been solemnly inaugurated – are used as book exchange zones and have initiated an animated exchange. The users of the book exchange project can chose a book from the shelf, read it, and deposit one or several books themselves.
Magdeburg reports one of its books to have reached Sweden
This "catching" and "releasing" of books happens at the bookshelves themselves, as well as on the website bookcrossing.com, where the itinerary of the book can be tracked according to the bookcrossing ID, which is registered online.
Photo: Luther2017Letter-shaped shelves of the Luther 2017 book exchange zones.Depending on where a reader puts a book back into the circuit, the journey continues – through the whole republic and sometimes even beyond. The Luther 2017 book exchange zone in the museum of cultural history in Magdeburg reported that one of its books has already travelled to Sweden.
Many readers who are active on bookcrossing.com leave a journal entry when they catch or release a book. "A really good book – you will have a good time when you read it!", is one example of a recommendation to other readers. Some book exchange partners have received book donations from publishers, libraries or private households and where therefore able to expand their supplies.
The 18 book exchange zones of the Luther Decade invite new readers to become bookcrossers. According to Wikipedia, there are around 58,000 bookcrossers in Germany, who have registered more than 615,000 books (figures from May 2010). According to the Evangelical Press Service (epd) of Saxony-Anhalt, the first book from the Luther 2017 book exchange zone in the Augusteum in Wittenberg was borrowed by the former State Prime Minister Wolfgang Böhmer (Christian Democrats, CDU).
Those who want to participate in the book exchange network can register for free at www.bookcrossing.de. On the website they will find the book exchange zones and the books that were released in their own region. Books can be searched worldwide, and even be pre-ordered.
