This initiative will transform unused furniture so that travelers can exchange books
The Community of Madrid is going to launch, coinciding with the celebration of the Book Fair and with the aim of promoting reading among travelers, Metro Librarya Madrid Metro project that has consisted of the transformation of the disused trash cans at suburban stations into bookstoreswith the aim of giving them a new life as a space for exchanging books between users.
These new and particular libraries will be available on all lines of the suburban network starting May 14, and will be installed, progressively, throughout the rest of the year. The stations that have this new service will have these bookstores on both platforms, and they will be video monitored throughout the day.
The old Metro litter bins that are removed from the network will thus have a second life and, after adapting them to their new purpose, they will be placed on the platforms of these stations in visible points and within reach of users who are waiting for the arrival of the train. Next to each Metroteca there will be placed a QR code in which the basic rules of use of these spaces will be explained.
Thanks to this initiative, travelers will be able to take one work and leave another in its place to guarantee the constant circulation of books. These recycled shelves will collect titles that belong to reading genres such as novels, biographies, self-help, travel literature, travel guides or children’s books. Technical books or textbooks or educational books will not be accepted and all books deposited in these spaces must be in good condition.
The Madrid suburban company has always shown great interest in literature, as can be seen in the Books on the Street, which has completed its twenty-sixth edition. Thanks to this collaboration it is possible read fragments of the works of different authors on vinyl placed inside the Metro trains. It also has Bibliometers, a free book loan system at 12 stations in the network.
