Bookcrossing

BookCrossing is a worldwide movement to free distribution of books to known, but generally unknown to people. Can be pursued by all previous owners of a central database on the project site while the path of the book.

Expiration

Each book is before it is passed, registered on the BookCrossing website gets its own BCID ( BookCrossing ID number ). At the same time its own internet is ( under ) side created on the current and all future owners can leave their comments on the book for the book.

After you have provided the book with a handwritten note or glued a label on which the BCID is entered, it is passed on to friends or left lying somewhere in public. Recommended are weather-protected locations, as some books are not found for a long time. In general, this "release" also entered into the database, so that other BookCrossers can go specifically to look for the book.

The Finder is the BCID one on the website and can then to write at will, where he found the book and if so, how he liked it. This comment will be saved on the page of the book and automatically sent by e -mail to the person who has registered the book, as well as any other owner. In this way, the career of the book as well as the opinions of the reader can be looked up on the internet at any time. However, not every book is found; some are even for years but disappeared, but until they resurface with an entry on the project site, while others are never seen again.

The Register of books is only reserved for registered members of BookCrossing, write an entry, however, can any a so-called Anonymous finder, unless he knows the full BCID.

The profile of each logged on user displays the bookshelf. There, all books are listed that have been registered to their respective users, and all that he has found or get sent. Each book can be seen, in which user it is currently located or whether it is to be found in a public place.

History

BookCrossing was invented by the American Ron Hornbaker, who came on April 21, 2001 inspired by Where's George, and PhotoTag the idea books " to release them ," and so to set up a free book club.

Initially, only a few enthusiastic for the idea, but after a few articles in major U.S. and German newspapers, including The Mirror, the daily newspaper, Rheinische Post, c't, the movement grew. Even the television was, for example, with reports of the Tübingen meeting, the increase in membership at.

Meanwhile, more than one million members worldwide have registered over 9 million books (May 2012). In Germany there are about 62,900, in Switzerland about 6400 and in Austria about 4,300 members (as of May 2012).

In Austria, the city Perg in Upper Austria in April 2011, as part of its carried out in six years reading month under the motto Perg "reads" picked up the idea and initially built 14 picnic areas as official BookCrossing zones for migratory books.

More game types of BookCrossing

With time, other varieties have evolved within BookCrossing. The basic principle ( free distribution of books, entries in the database, etc.) remains the same. However, in most of these variants, the book is now reintroduced, but by mail (so-called controlled release) sent on:

Meeting, OBCZs and projects

At the regional level meetings are held regularly (usually once a month). An international meeting in Germany it was the first time on Pentecost, 2004 in Tübingen. The last Germany -wide meetings were held from 22.-24. October 2010 in Essen and from 1st - 3rd October in Konstanz. The first meeting took place in Austria Pentecost 2009 in Vienna. Where and when such regular meetings take place, can be checked on the German support site.

Apart from the official website, there is in the German speaking a support page and a blog by BC members.

In Germany since 2003, there are several BookCrossing Zone ( OBCZ: Official BookCrossing Zone), in which one " freed " books place. These zones are usually cafes or restaurants that have reserved a special shelf or else a place for BC- books. Where the OBCZs in Germany are exactly can be checked on the German support site. In addition, there are public bookcases are also used for the free book exchange and storage in public places. These are often fitted with unmarked books.

In Stuttgart, a supportive project was started to give about 1,000 books were passed in January 2003. The so-called glass box, however, was only set up for a week.

In Rostock, the House of Literature Rostock initiated an annual books - liberation to draw attention to the global phenomenon of Facebook Crossings. On this occasion, several hundred books are distributed in the city center and excited with information booths to participate.

When Corso of luminaries, an action that would draw attention to illiteracy in Germany, was traveling with a BookCrossing box.

German publishers who support BookCrossing

The Goldmann Verlag has suspended about one thousand books of the author Marc Costello, paranoia. Products marked with an extra -cover copies, however, are not directly registered on BookCrossing.

The Betzel Publishing provides one copy of each of his new releases for a book ring available, which is supervised by a BookCrossing godfather.

Meanwhile, support a range of publishers BookCrossing actions. Among many small publishers, but also large publishers such as S. Fischer, the Weltbild Verlag or the iris hangover Verlag & Media GmbH, which has also opened a OBCZ in their foyer.