Book Exchange Libraries

Book exchange libraries¿one of the primary forms of book exchange practices¿that have been established sporadically around the world for almost three decades now have lately grown radically. As it seems, this book exchange process accomplished by means of a kind of construction/furniture placed in public space, has a great potential and it is not only a reaction to the economic crisis or the result of loving books and reading but it also reflects a hope for a future which will be founded on values, such as faith, trust, moral duty and aesthetics as well as on practices like volunteerism, social offer, sharing, and communication. Believing in the importance of the growing presence of book exchange libraries in neighbourhoods across the world, we were urged to record its history and development and also to categorise its main features. We hope that our work will spark interest so that more and more people will focus on the phenomenon and support it.