Another fantastic group writing for us again this week. This time with the duel purpose of love for books and planet, by providing a place for unwanted books to be loved again. Here it is, Free Books Southampton.

Free Books Southampton (FBS) is a volunteer led group based at the Third Age Centre (3AC),
in partnership with Transition Southampton. We take in donated books and redistribute
them to the community in Southampton and further afield.

“Second hand books are wild books, homeless books; they have come together in vast flocks
of variegated feathers and have a charm which is domesticated volumes of the library lack”
– Virginia Woolf

We are very lucky to receive generous book donations from different places; from
individuals, schools, libraries or shops etc, who are having a clear out and do not have space
for them. By taking books from us, you are reducing the amount of waste that goes into
landfills each year and you are helping to recycle valuable resources.

Most of the books we get given are in good, readable condition. However, we do receive
books that are worn and damaged. Those that are not in good nick get used in various arts
and craft projects at the 3AC and across the city. We encourage others to recycle books that
cannot be used for reading anymore and we can happily provide some for people to use in
their craft projects. Our own most favourite creation is the book hedgehog using such
books. Just two simple folds on a page repeated throughout the book can make a cute
creature. We have taught people how to make these at many events in Southampton.
We are a small team of volunteers who work together to sort through donations, put books
out on display, making them look presentable, running the Facebook and Twitter social
media sites, emails and giving books out at community events.

Being based at the 3AC means we can provide free books to those who want them 7 days a
week. All you have to do is stop by, browse our selection and help yourselves! We have
most genres ranging from; sci-fi, thriller, romance, non-fiction, autobiographies and children
just to name a few. There is no excuse to not read, there is something for everyone and they
are FREE!

We are very lucky to be supported by a great community in Southampton. We have been
asked to give books out at a number of events. Not only are we able to give books to those
in Southampton, more recently we were able to donate 271 books to Brikamaba Primary
School in Gambia. We would not be able to do things like this if we did not receive
donations! In 2017 we gave out 5166 books and we are hoping to beat that total this year.

If you would like more information about Free Books Southampton please do not hesitate to
send us an email booksforfree.soton@gmail.com, send us a Facebook message or drop by
the 3AC.

“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library” – Jorge Luis Borges

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