Have you been to The Bookstop Project in any of its incarnations? A the moment, the roaming pop-up library is on High Street in Bonifacio Global Heights and at Plaza Roma in Intramuros, in front of the Manila Cathedral. In November, it will transfer to in front of the Mind Museum and stay there until the end of the year.
As a book lover, I love this concept. I laud its mission to bring public libraries closer to people and I share its dream of making public libraries relevant again. Libraries shouldn’t be intimidating at all, don’t you think so? They should instead be community hangouts for people of all ages–welcoming, fun, and a little mysterious–a sanctuary for stories, a gatekeeper to multiple universes, and a key to knowledge.
Indeed, the Book Stop Project has hosted quite a number of fun activities since it started last year, from storytelling activities and art talks to gaming tournaments to open-mike poetry. One of its most recent events is the Human Library where instead of a book, participants borrow a person and learn his or her story.
Give a Book, Get a Book
So that everyone can enjoy the library, visitors are supposed to give a book to get a book. Or borrow a book and return it on the shelf after reading. I hope that everyone is strictly being true to that.
As expected the selection was composed of mostly pre-loved books and a lot of textbooks and reference books.
The library’s selection changes from day to day, depending on the number of people who give and take books.
I made sure to beef up the library by leaving 16 science fiction and fantasy books and one YA (go get ’em!). And like any self-respecting bookworm, I cannot leave the library without combing its shelves. To my delight, IÂ discovered gems.
