Last week we secured TfL’s blessing to look at putting in book swaps in some of London’s tube stations, and today one of the student groups from the London College of Communication ‘field tested’ a prototype book shelf in Tooting Broadway Station.
As you can see it got a great deal of interest, and around 100 books were given away. Clearly the good people of Tooting are ready to share books on the tube!
The students observed how commuters used the shelf and what they thought of it, aand how it was working. The students will use this information to design a permanent shelf (likely made out of metal to be resilient) which can be rolled out to tube stations across London.
We’ll be back in Tooting Broadway from tomorrow morning at about 8am to 1pm, so if you’re in the area, stop by, say hello and let us know what you think about book swapping on London’s tube!
Books for London 
I was lucky enough to get a free book from the shelves at Tooting Broadway and I think the whole scheme is a brilliant idea. The thing I love about the tube is that it gives me a chance to read which I probably wouldn’t have otherwise so anything that adds to that geets my vote. I hope you manage to get a permanent shelf installed and if so I will definitely be donating some books to it!
Posted by Kathy | April 19, 2012, 4:50 pm