Egyptians continue book swap despite theft
The street library initiative launched by an Egyptian-German businessman offers novels, poetry and nonfiction books in the busy streets of Cairo.
CAIRO — A few hundred books, a large social media network and a wooden sign that reads "Take a book and leave another" have created one of the most successful initiatives of 2017 in Egypt.
On Nov. 4 Nader Riad, an Egyptian-German businessman, and his team placed three wooden stands with a few dozen novels, poetry and nonfiction books in the busy streets of Cairo. The rules are simple: You can take a free book if you bring another one.
The simplicity of the book exchange contrasts with extravagant plans by the state in the past. For example, as part of the “Reading for All” initiative, which ran between 1991 and 2010 under the former president's wife, Suzanne Mubarak, huge sums of money were spent on TV advertisements to encourage people to read.
The street library, as the Egyptian media and social media users call it, was chosen by several Egyptian newspapers as the best initiative in 2017. It was widely promoted online and welcomed by many young people and bookworms, some of whom visited the stands and shared pictures on social media.
