Shanghai metro creates a subway-only library for commuters
Chinese subway riders using Shanghai’s Metro Line 2 will soon have their very own unofficial library. Pick up a book at one station, drop it off at any other.
The project was initiated by a bookstore, the subway line and the online education provider Hujiang.com. “Now you can read a real book, rather than staring at the cellphone through the metro ride,” said Zou Shuxian, an Aizhi bookstore spokesperson, told the China Daily.
Special bookshelves are installed at the metro stations, containing rows books for the taking. There’s no registration necessary, and no fee; readers are simply encouraged to make a small charitable donation when taking a book.
Michael Sauers is the Director of Logan Library in Logan, UT. Prior to this he was one of the founding staff and Technology Manager for Do Space in Omaha, NE. After earning his MLS in 1995 from the University at Albany's School of Information Science and Policy Michael spent his first 20 years as a librarian training other librarians in technology along with time as a public library trustee, a bookstore manager for a library friends group, a reference librarian, a technology consultant, and a bookseller. He has written dozens of articles for various journals and magazines and has published 14 books ranging from library technology, blogging, Web design, and an index to a popular horror magazine. In his spare time, he blogs at TravelinLibrarian.info, runs The Collector's Guide to Dean Koontz website at CollectingKoontz.com, takes many, many photos, and typically reads more than 100 books a year.
Unless otherwise stated, all opinions are my own and are not to be considered those of the City of Logan, UT.
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Chinese subway riders using Shanghai’s Metro Line 2 will soon have their very own unofficial library. Pick up a book at one station, drop it off at any other.
