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2006-05-03 13:41:06
CRIENGLISH.com
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If one day, you come across a book with a note on the cover left in a public place, please pick it up. You may find you've joined the bookcrossing movement by doing so.
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What would you do with a book you have already read?
A: Throw it away.
B: Sell it.
C: Put it on the bookshelf and never read it again.
Or, perhaps none of the above? Now, you are able to choose a much better life for your books.
It's called Bookcrossing.
 (right-click, save as)
If one day, you come across a book with a note on the cover left in a public place, please pick it up. You may find you've joined the bookcrossing movement by doing so.
Bookcrossing, simply put, is a way to "make books travel". The idea was originated in Europe in the 1960s. People stick a special label on their books and set them free in public places such as parks, coffee shops or buses for someone else to read. People who find such books can take them home and release them again after they finish reading.
The idea was developed by an American, Ron Hornbaker. He set up the website bookcrossing.com, in 2001. People can log on to the website and become a member of the movement. Now, there are more than 140 thousands registered members of the website and the number is rising every day.
Now, some Chinese book lovers are trying to get this idea to catch on in China.
Not long ago, the Guangxi Normal Publishing house brought more than 2000 books to 10 big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen and invited people to take them home and then pass them on. How did they get the idea?
Here is the organizer of this event, Zhou Qingfeng:
"it's been more than one year since I started paying attention to bookcrossing. Nowadays, people read less and less. When I ask my friends what they’ve been reading, their answer is super girl-related or magazines. No one reads books. I was really shocked. I hope we can make people read more by promoting bookcrossing."
In fact, GuangXi is not the first to attempt the promoting of bookcrossing in China.
A Chinese bookcrossing website tspl.cn was set up earlier last year.
In the end of 2005, a bookcrossing event was organized in Shanghai and the results were not very optimistic. Over 20 thousands books were released to the public and only 30% of them are still being circulated. That means most of the books have stopped traveling around and are being enjoyed by one person.
Does bookcrossing have a bright future in China? Ding Yang who works in the print media industry is not optimistic.
"At present, Chinese readers know very little about bookcrossing, and we don't have a perfect environment for bookcrossing. For example, if you put a book in the library, it's possible that people who pick it up will throw it away. Or , if they like the book, they may keep it to themselves."
This concern is shared by many others.
"I don't think it's realistic. It might work if you put the book in a coffee shop where not many people go. But you'll probably lose the book in a relatively crowded place. There are a lot of people who would even sell the book."
However, more people are interested in the good deeds.
"Leave the books I have read to others? That' okay. I will participate."
"I would like to do it my own way. If I have a book that I want to give others to read. I'll put my own email and thoughts on the book. Those who read it can share their feelings about the book with me if they want."
As a matter of fact, it's not howh you take in bookcrossing that matters, it's about whether you do it or not.
Bookcrossing is still a fresh idea in China, but it is such a fun way to promote reading and the idea of sharing. So, if you love your books and want to grant them a great life as they have given to you, set them free and make them travel.
China Drive is one of CRI's radio programs aired from Monday to Friday. Chinastic picks the most interesting life reports from China Drive. Stay tuned.
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