On Saturday 10th May, following the success of our clothing swap back in the autumn, we held our first book swap at the Swiss Cottage library in Camden. It was a great opportunity for attendees to bring pre-loved books to declutter their shelves, to replace them with fresh new reads, without the detrimental environmental impact of purchasing brand-new.
This was also a networking opportunity for us as an organisation and a chance to collect new newsletter sign-ups from members of the library and the local community. We talked about our current campaigns and our upcoming events and answered anybody’s questions as to which books we might recommend from our selection.
This was advertised and executed as a all-ages inclusive event in which books for all ages were available for swapping. Alongside adult books, we also had an array of children’s fiction and non-fiction, and an origami and crafts table for our younger visitors. It was wonderful to welcome so many younger people and families and see them engage with simple and positive environmental practices. We were also able to talk about who we are and have them understand why we do what we do and why it is so crucial.
At the end of our event, we were able to donate any leftover books to the Swiss Cottage library’s cafe so that they can be enjoyed by future visitors of the library and even taken home if swapped with another book. We were glad to have spent this time encouraging environmentally friendly living as well as boost engagement with our organisation by face-to-face interaction with attendees who have followed our social media, informing them to stay engaged to ensure they know about our future events and campaigns.
Outside of the Swiss Cottage Library