Cathy Kelly

World Book Day Bookcrossing Initiative

Posted on 02 Mar 2010

This World Book Day on 4th March, bestselling authors will be leaving signed copies of their work in
public places for lucky readers to find. People all over Ireland are being asked to send their books on the
bookcrossing adventure of a lifetime.

Cathy Kelly launched Ireland’s bookcrossing initiative this week. Bookcrossing is about clearing your shelves, sharing your books and getting everybody reading.  The idea is to leave your books in public places for anyone to pick up, take home and enjoy.

World Book Day (WBD) has become Ireland's biggest annual celebration of
reading and is run by the Booksellers Association.  It is a month long
initiative from March 1st to March 28th, which incorporates elements for
adults and children alike including the annual FREE book token for every
primary school child, which is funded by booksellers all over Ireland. It is
also a worldwide celebration of reading, literacy and a love of books for
young people in over 100 countries around the globe.

So how does it work? It's easy. All you do is log onto http://www.worldbookday.com or
http://www.bookcrossing.com to register the books you want to share, fill in
some details and create your 'bookshelf'.  Then leave your book on a park
bench or in a coffee shop, hotel, bus, train or taxi - anywhere at all it might
find a new reader! The secret is to not attract attention as you do it.
What happens next is anyone's guess and you never know where your books
might travel. Those who pick them up should log online that they have been
'captured' and the book's journey around the world can be tracked online as
it is passed on from person to person.