Free Community Book Exchanges - A Waymarking.com Category

Search Criteria: All Waymarks Within 100 km of N 33° 07.023 W 097° 11.205 [show search options]
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Free Community Book Exchanges

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Little Free Librarians

Description:: The mission of the Free Community Book Exchanges category is to seek out any and all locations that exist in communities across the globe where free books are offered to the public to borrow, return, exchange with other books, etc. Most exchanges operate on the 'take a book, leave a book' policy.

Expanded Description:

Many communities across the globe have multiple community book exchanges available to the public. In its most basic form, these free book exchanges are boxes full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book or two to share. They can also be an actual building with a physical address. Most, if not all, operate on the principle of a “take a book, return a book” gathering place where people share their favorite literature and stories. They are also referred to as 'book trading posts', 'pop-up libraries', 'Noox' (Neighborhood bOOk eXchange) and the increasingly-popular 'Little Free Libraries', amongst other terms.

The focus of this category is for FREE book exchanges and NOT to be confused with Used Book Stores and Independent Bookstores for which these existing categories focus on the buying and selling of new and used books. This category will accept free community book exchanges of all types, whether they be in the form of a box, a physical building or any location where the general public is encouraged to exchange books and other reading materials for free.

The Little Free Libraries movement began in the United States in 2009 and has gained much in popularity for their often custom-made mailbox-like structures. They also promote an official website here as well as a very nice online map of many registered Little Free Library locations here (not all Little Free Libraries are registered on the website's map). There are over 10,000 Little Free Libraries worldwide and growing. Their website also sells Little Free Library kits so one doesn't have to build a LFL, although many homeowners and organizations have custom-built some very elaborate ones. In addition, many geocachers have found Little Free Libraries the perfect locations for new geocaches, which only adds to their increasing exposure and popularity.

Any Free Community Book Exchange may also be submitted into the Bookcrossing Zones category but will require the waymarker to register the book exchange on the Bookcrossing.com website to track its movement of books. This requirement tends to discourage many waymarkers from submitting a waymark into that category. For that reason, this category was created to accept any and all free community book exchange locations one may come across in their travels. PLEASE DO NOT submit a Community Book Exchange location into the Libraries category. The Libraries category officers have supported this category and if they receive a Free Community Book Exchange submission they will most likely deny it (previously approved ones will be grandfathered).

Instructions for Posting a Free Community Book Exchanges Waymark:

When titling your waymark, please follow the naming convention below:

Your Title - Anytown, USA

You may also include the Charter Number of a Little Free Library submission in the title (most have them, some do not).

Requirement: include at least ONE photo in your waymark submission. Additional photos are appreciated.

Many community book exchanges are actual storefronts or are located inside places of business. Please input the hours (in the variable provided) that the business is open for the public to exchange books.

Requirement: If your waymark submission is located outside the USA, you are required to include an English translation in addition to your country's language (German, Spanish, French, etc.).

Instructions for Visiting a Waymark in this Category:

When posting a visit of a Free Community Book Exchange, please include the minimum of one picture of your visit as proof that you were there in the flesh. PLEASE, NO DRIVE-BY WAYMARK VISITS! Take the time to stop and look at the few books the owner has taken the time to offer to the public and enjoy the experience!

Although not required, please include your personal experience of this location. How did you come across this Free Community Book Exchange? By accident? Searched for one in your area on a website?

Category Settings:

Waymarks can be added to this category
New waymarks of this category are reviewed by the category group prior to being published
Category is visible in the directory

Variables:

Location of Free Community Book Exchange
Business Hours
Web Address or URL
Rate the Community Book Exchange
Charter Number (of a Little Free Library)
Geocache link
Extra Credit (for fun)

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view gallery 0 km	Little Free Library #7209 - Argyle, TX in Free Community Book Exchanges Little Free Library Charter #7209 is located in the parking lot of the Point Bank Building at 302 N US 377, Argyle, TX. posted by: QuarrellaDeVil location: Texas date approved: 8/31/2014 last visited: 8/30/2014
view gallery NE0.6 km	Little Free Library #7208 - Argyle, TX in Free Community Book Exchanges Little Free Library Charter #7208 is located in front of Argyle Town Hall, 308 Denton St E, Argyle, TX. posted by: QuarrellaDeVil location: Texas date approved: 10/29/2014 last visited: 10/26/2014
view gallery N0.6 km	Little Free Library #4945 - Argyle, TX in Free Community Book Exchanges Little Free Library Charter #4945 is located right behind The Real Estate Station at 702 US 377, Argyle, TX. posted by: QuarrellaDeVil location: Texas date approved: 10/13/2014 last visited: 10/12/2014
view gallery NE1.1 km	Little Free Library #5606 - Argyle, TX in Free Community Book Exchanges Little Free Library Charter #5606 is located in front of Edward Jones Investments, 100 Country Club Rd, Suite 100, Argyle, TX. posted by: QuarrellaDeVil location: Texas date approved: 10/20/2014 last visited: 10/19/2014
view gallery S43.8 km	Texas Wesleyan University Little Free Library -- Fort Worth TX in Free Community Book Exchanges A cute Little Free Library sponsored by Texas Wesleyan University and the local Kiwanis club stands outside of Dan Waggoner Hall on board the TWU campus in east Fort Worth TX. posted by: Benchmark Blasterz location: Texas date approved: 11/18/2014 last visited: 11/8/2014