book crossing

[RosieH]

so I was talking to someone today about book crossing and she said she'd picked up quite a few books here and there over the past year or so (granted she's in Oxford - suspect they read more).

I've never seen a book left on a bench or a bus for people to pick up and enjoy and pass on - although I'd be quite keen. Obviously there was (is?) the book swap group for a more formal offering, but if you saw a book just lying on a bench would you think to read it and then leave it somewhere else? maybe I'm just cynical...

[Michael Palaeologus]

I spotted one outside the British Library, honest.

[RosieH]

am I right in thinking you can't actually take books out of the British Library? clearly need to make a visit

[Shu.Kurimu.Sensei]

Hmm not sure about taking them out, when I have been there I needed to request books at least 4 days in advance and they get sent to the appropriate reading room, think they get kept at the library for 3 days or something.You can also request academic journals if you don't have access to an Emerald account, or if the journal is no longer available online, which is handy.

Note that although there is internet access there, it is limited and you cannot access any of the major web based email services there unless you bring along a laptop and pay through the nose for wifi access.

Check their website before going, I was lucky enough to get a 3 year pass, but I think even for a day pass you still need to bring 2 forms of ID, something like a utility bill, drivers licence, 2 forms of address and preferably photo ID as well. Lots of book thieves there apparently.

If you don't want to faff about with the tube I'm pretty sure a 45 from Camberwell will take you right there.

Happy reading :)-D

[Cassius]

I'm going to sound really anal but I don't think I'd pick a book off a bench and read it - you wouldn't know where it had been!

[Nero]

I think that's the problem with Bookcrossing in the UK. We're jsut too frightened to do anything like that lest someone think you are odd. I used to leave books across London, but have rarely had them picked up. It's a shame. I've left a book on the round bench in Dulwich Village but it was never recorded on my Bookcrossing site as having been picked up. Nero