Public bookshelves spread across Germany

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_GERMANY_PUBLIC_BOOKSHELVES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-10-14-06-59-37

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) -- Take a book, leave a book. In the birthplace of the printing press, public bookshelves are popping up across the nation on street corners, city squares and suburban supermarkets.

In these free-for-all libraries, people can grab whatever they want to read, and leave behind anything they want for others. There's no need to register, no due date, and you can take or give as many as you want.

"This project is aimed at everyone who likes to read - without regard to age or education. It is open for everybody," Michael Aubermann, one of the organizers of the free book exchange in the city of Cologne, told The Associated Press.

The western city's latest public shelf, a euro5,000 ($6,883) steel bookcase with acrylic glass doors, was put up two weeks ago next to Bayenturm, one of the city's medieval towers. It is the fourth free shelf that Aubermann's group, the Cologne Citizen's Foundation, has placed outside; there are two more inside local Ikea outlets.

[marmar]

1. How awesome is that?

I'm glad some countries believe in an educated populace.....

[xchrom]

2. i think it's great! nt

[applegrove]

3. That makes a lot of sense because second hand book stores will

not take all the books offered to them.

[Book Lover]

4. Here's a story about 2 folks in the Midwest doing something similar and cheaper

http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/891507-264/in_pursuit_of_andrew_carnegie.html.csp#.Tpcdct1okzo.facebook

"The Wisconsin pair want to top Andrew Carnegie, who built and endowed 2,509 libraries. The only difference is that the libraries Brooks and Bol construct are generally made of wood and Plexiglas, are about 24" x 24" x 30", and cost only about $350."

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. Public bookshelves are awesome, more power to them!