h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Can anyone tell me the name of that scheme where a book is left in a public place, read by someone who then passes it on again?

I want to google it but I'm not really sure what to search with. I'm sure someone here will know.

Ta.

I remember this being on the news ages ago I never saw any books around htough

It was where you left your book that you were reading on the bus or somewhere when you were finished, someone came along and read it and put it down spmewhere else etc, right?

And wasn't there something about there being a code on the front flap so that you could see where the book had been when you went on t'internet?

But I don't think if you cut and pasted that into google, that you'd get much help

Book crossing is what you are looking for.

http://www.bookcrossing.com/

Donald

It's called 'Book Crossing' Hope this helps

Does it work or does someone just end up nicking it?

Let me guess...

Probably the latter. Pity though, I'd like to see the idea proliferate. I've been saved from plenty of boring commuting by finding a newspaper to peruse. Never a book yet though.

You pick it up, take it home, read it. Then when you have finished, instead of having it cluttering your book case you leave it on a bus or a bench for someone else to read. If you keep it then you are not playing the game. There are some books that have been tracked all round the world.

The is a sticky label on the fly leaf with a serial No and intructions on what it is all about. Before you pass the book on you are invited to enter the books serial no in to the web site along with the place you found it.

Donald

Has anyone actually found one then?

Well, noone I know personally, but the site Donald mentioned lets you track books and where they've been picked up and let loose again.

Sam Semple found one once. He picked it up, read a bit, then dumped it again without filling the details in online. I was very cross with him, as he knows I'm a member. Although I haven't dropped any books of lately I have to admit.

there's at least one other one out there doing this as well. Can;t remember the name of it, but will have a search for it.

There's also that money tracker site

I had this brainwave yesterday:

Start a book sharing scheme with a difference. Compile a book with a few pages of funnies and jokes and the rest blank pages. The person who finds it reads the jokes and then adds their own joke before passing it on. What do you think? I think that would be cool and RAKish.

I guess there's also a link with 'random acts of kindness' and 'the generosity virus' http://www.generosity.org/

I once demonstrated the concept to a friend by leaving a copy of 'The Corrections' by Jonathan Frantzen on a bar in Prague. It was gone in thirty seconds!

I used to be of the 'Never Throw A Book Out' school. I've recently realised that they're only possesions and intend doing a thorough cull. Most will go to Oxfam - which seems like a better use of old books than park benches. I guess, though, that the two could be combined. Either put one of the bookcrossing labels in a book before donating to Oxfam....or putting in a note requesting a donation to a charity of the finder's choice.

That reminds me of the thing Jack Dee used to do. At the begenning of a gig he'd give an audience member a note book and pen, it would get passed around all the way through the show then at the end, Jack would read out what people had put.