Free books in Arroios after hunt is launched by local library to get people reading
Thousands of books are being freely distributed throughout a Lisbon neighbourhood after a local library made it its mission to get people back into reading.
Until 15 September, some 2,500 books of all genres are to be distributed throughout the neighbourhood of Arroios, up to 60 books a day, which will be left on park benches, esplanades or near municipal buildings.
The books are chosen based on demand and on their condition, on the type of literature and the year in which they were published.
They are free for finders-keepers and are being given away as part of an initiative devised by the São Lázaro library to beat the hegemony of an increasingly online-fixated world and boost dwindling reading figures.
Explaining the project to newspaper Público, Joaquina Pereira, one of the coordinators, admits that while giving away books might not be a pioneering idea, leaving them in the street is.
“We want people to lose their fear of books. In previous years we have staged the same initiative here in the library, but not a lot of people would come for the books. Either they didn’t know about it, or they were embarrassed”, she explains.
According to Ms. Pereira, who has worked at the library for over two years, crime and romance novels are still the people’s favourites, followed by erotic literature, children’s books and specialist literature. Classic books and poetry are the least favourites.
In a bid to challenge people’s reading habits the library’s team will be distributing between 50 and 60 books every day until 15 September, which are free for whoever finds them to take home.
“Each bag has around two dozen books. Each employee takes one or two bags and distributes them. We try to spread the books throughout different areas of the parish. “
Some of the areas where the books are left include the Torel garden and the areas of Saldanha, Penha de França and Estefânia.
“Just this week I saw someone reading one of the books while having lunch on an esplanade, which proves that people are joining the project”, Joaquina Pereira says, adding: “Often people are intimidated because they are not familiar with the books. It seems that the books scare them.”
Describing the project as a way to attract new readers, who do not have to be residents of the parish, she concludes “work must be invested in expanding the books. Reading and getting to know more books translates as more knowledge and information. And the more informed people are the more free they are”, she stresses.
The books can be found on the likes of coffee tables and park benches and are flagged with a paper that says ‘Take me with you’.