Merry books everyone!
Gordonton’s Book Box is now open for business, and is taking – and giving – books for all.
Number 8 Network’s Annette Taylor fell in love with the idea of a community book exchange while visiting an Auckland cafe and decided Gordonton needed one.
This explains why N8N has been a tad quiet over the Christmas break – “Husband David got the job of building the thing, and if I didn’t keep an eye on him he’d be off mowing the lawns or digging the garden. It’s hard work supervising.”
It all came together beautifully out of old pieces of plywood and was put in place yesterday between the Gordonton Superette and The Mandarin Tree.
“The idea is for people to help themselves to a book, and drop one or two off for others. As it says on the side, it runs on generosity. It will be interesting to see what turns up,” says Annette.
Book exchanges have been popping up at bus stations, cafes, backpackers and the like all around the world. They include modified shipping containers, old phone booths and fridges, book shelves, suitcases – anything that can be a home to literature.
“It’s lovely to see people walking around with their nose in a book,” says Annette, a lifelong bibliophile.
The Gordonton Book Box also received artistic input from Rosie Campbell and Iris Riddell, who decorated the box with style and grace, as well as Osborne the N8N pukeko.
The paint was donated by Resene ColorShop, Gisborne and Creative Plastic on Higgins Rd supplied the polycarbonate window. Claudia provided blueberry juice and a lovely big hammer to get the job done.
Thanks guys. Let the reading begin!
A delightful idea Annette. Thanks for taking the initiative.
The box is very cute and I’m sure people will enjoying browsing and reading something they may not otherwise.
Thanks Gayle – I think these book exchanges are just wonderful. And love the fact that they introduce you to authors you’d never consider. Who says the day of the book is gone?
Looks great – hope the books flood in and out!
My sister-in-law lives on a Nelson Peninsula and their book box was a cardboard box. It was her job to dash off and bring it in every time it rained!! (And at night) We are so privileged to have such an arty and weatherproof one! Thanks Annette and David and your crew.
Hoping it’s weatherproof! Good on your sister!
I love it to bitz!
Pulled out bell book and candle to keep the vandals away.
Look forward to you coming out and taking out a book, Roy! (Ice cream is on me.)
Awesome idea, I can’t wait to check it out
…and you can get an ice cream from the dairy at the same time!
Thank you to everyone for making this a part of our community life. I will be ‘boxing’ and ‘booking’! Lovely idea.
Fantastic Bernie – I look forward to perusing your contributions! It’s a great way to meet new authors….
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Well it pays to check things out!! Saw this new addition between the dairy and The Mandarin Tree very colourful and appealing. Reminded me when I was in Eureka Springs Arkansas last year there was a book box on the street outside a second hand shop and as you say they are all over the world. Good on you Annette (inspirer) and David (the carpenter) and thank you.
It’s lovely to see them popping up, Judy. And I was very glad of David’s great capentry skills. Not to mention Iris and Rosie’s painting talent! See you down there one day, we can get an ice block from the dairy!
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