BookCrossing/BookCrossing Localization
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<p>Download label files and print them to your home printer onto standard label stock. Our labels are pre-numbered and designed for Avery 5163 or 5263, 10-up label sheets. The individual labels are 2"x4". You can print either 1 sheet (10 labels) or 10 sheets (100 labels) at a time. The BCID range you print will be automatically recorded as "belonging" to you, so that you or your organization will get credit as the original registrant of the books, as soon as someone comes to the site and creates a journal entry with one of the numbers.</p><p>Or better yet, you can easily activate your own prenumbered labels so that the book details are already filled in for the finder and so that you can make release notes on the books as well. Note: printable pre-numbered labels are a <a href="/plus">Wings</a> feature.</p>
<p>
Download label files and print them to your home printer onto standard label stock. Our labels are pre-numbered and designed for Avery 5163 or 5263, 10-up label sheets. The individual labels are 2"x4". You can print either 1 sheet (10 labels) or 10 sheets (100 labels) at a time. The BCID range you print will be automatically recorded as "belonging" to you, so that you or your organization will get credit as the original registrant of the books, as soon as someone comes to the site and creates a journal entry with one of the numbers.</p><p>
Or better yet, you can easily activate your own prenumbered labels so that the book details are already filled in for the finder and so that you can make release notes on the books as well.
Note: printable pre-numbered labels are a<a href="/plus">
Wings</a>
feature.</p>
-
<b>Hot Crossing Zone Tip!</font></b> To generate even more traffic to your Crossing Zone, <a href="/register">Register</a> and <a href="/release">Release</a> books at your Zone on a regular basis! And if your patrons leave books that are not yet registered, make sure you have some <a href="/labels">pre-numbered labels</a> handy so you can <b>1) </b>make sure they get tracked, and <b>2)</b> make sure your Crossing Zone account shows up as the original registrant of the book forever!
<b>
Hot Crossing Zone Tip!</font></b>
To generate even more traffic to your Crossing Zone,
<a href="/register">
Register</a>
and<a href="/release">
Release</a>
books at your Zone on a regular basis! And if
your patrons leave books that are not yet registered, make sure you have some<a href="/labels">
pre-numbered labels</a>
handy so you can<b>
1)</b>
make sure they get tracked, and<b>
2)</b>
make sure your Crossing Zone account shows up as
the original registrant of the book forever! -
<a href="/files/CrossingZoneDisplay.pdf" target="_blank" title="Download the Crossing Zone Display pdf file"><img src="/images/CrossingZoneDisplay-210x270.gif" width=210 height=270 border=0 hspace=5 alt="Download the Crossing Zone Display pdf file" align=left style="position:relative;z-index:3;"><b>Crossing Zone Display</b></a><br> <span class=tiny><b>621 Kb PDF, 8.5x11 in</b><br>This sign/flyer is perfect for table-top display in an acrylic stand</b>, or just thumb-tacked to a bulletin board or hung on a wall. </span>
<a href="/files/CrossingZoneDisplay.pdf" target="_blank" title="Download the Crossing Zone Display pdf file">
<img src="/images/CrossingZoneDisplay-210x270.gif" width=210 height=270 border=0 hspace=5 alt="Download the Crossing Zone Display pdf file" align=left style="position:relative;z-index:3;">
<b>
Crossing Zone Display</b></a><br>
<span class=tiny><b>
621 Kb PDF, 8.5x11 in</b><br>
This sign/flyer is perfect for table-top display in an acrylic stand</b>
,
or just thumb-tacked to a bulletin board or hung on a wall.</span>
-
<p><i>What this world needs</i> is more BookCrossers like you! We've made it easy for you to spread the word with this simple form. You can enter as many email addresses as you wish in the Friends field. We have a tracking system in place so you can see just how many people responded to your message and came here! <p>Here's an <i>inside tip</i> for boosting your Referral counts: put a link to BookCrossing, complete with your personal BookCrossing URL, in your email signature, or on your personal home page. That way, you can <i>always</i> be increasing your referrals. Here is an example to use in your email signature, which will lead people to our home page: <blockquote class=smallsansfixed> <b>Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at:<br> <a href="http://bookcrossing.com/friends/{0}" target="_blank">http://bookcrossing.com/friends/<b>{0}</b></a></b> </blockquote> <p>If you'd rather people go directly to your BookShelf page, you can use this URL: <blockquote class=smallsansfixed> <b>See the books I've set free at:<br> <a href="http://bookcrossing.com/referral/{0}" target="_blank">http://bookcrossing.com/referral/<b>{0}</b></a></b> </blockquote> <p>Please note that we will <i>never</i> sell, give away, or otherwise misuse your or your friends' personal information or email addresses... privacy is our top priority. In fact, we're not capturing your friends' email addresses at all, so you don't have to worry about them getting <i>any</i> unwanted mail from us.</p><br />
<p><i>
What this world needs</i>
is more BookCrossers like you! We've made it easy for you to spread the word with this simple form. You can enter as many email addresses as you wish in the Friends field. We have a tracking system in place so you can see just how many people responded to your message and came here!
<p>
Here's an<i>
inside tip</i>
for boosting your Referral counts: put a link to BookCrossing, complete with your personal BookCrossing URL, in your email signature, or on your personal home page. That way, you can<i>
always</i>
be increasing your referrals. Here is an example to use in your email signature, which will lead people to our home page:
<blockquote class=smallsansfixed>
<b>
Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at:<br>
<a href="http://bookcrossing.com/friends/{0}" target="_blank">
http://bookcrossing.com/friends/<b>
{0}</b></a></b>
</blockquote>
<p>
If you'd rather people go directly to your BookShelf page, you can use this URL:
<blockquote class=smallsansfixed>
<b>
See the books I've set free at:<br>
<a href="http://bookcrossing.com/referral/{0}" target="_blank">
http://bookcrossing.com/referral/<b>
{0}</b></a></b>
</blockquote>
<p>
Please note that we will<i>
never</i>
sell, give away, or otherwise misuse your or your friends' personal information or email addresses... privacy is our top priority. In fact, we're not capturing your friends' email addresses at all, so you don't have to worry about them getting<i>
any</i>
unwanted mail from us.</p><br />
-
<h3>Contact Form</h3> <p>If you do contact us using this form:</p> <ul class="nostyle"> <li>Be as descriptive as possible with your message</li> <li>Don't send in multiple copies of your query; one is plenty</li> <li>Please be patient with us as we dig out from under our email mountain every day. :-)</li> </ul>
<h3>
Contact Form</h3>
<p>
If you do contact us using this form:</p>
<ul class="nostyle">
<li>
Be as descriptive as possible with your message</li>
<li>
Don't send in multiple copies of your query; one is plenty</li>
<li>
Please be patient with us as we dig out from under our email mountain every day. :-)</li>
</ul>
-
As you might imagine, with so many members worldwide, the handful of folks behind the scenes here at BookCrossing.com receive a <i>lot</i> of email every day. Before contacting us, <i>please</i> try these steps first:<br /> Visit our <a href="/faqs"><b>FAQs</b></a>, our <a href="/about"><b>About Us</b></a> page, <a href="/search"><b>Search</b></a> or make a post to our <a href="/forum/1"><b>Newbies</b></a> or <nobr><a href="/forum/4"><b>Site Questions</b></a></nobr> forums.<br /><br /><b>Please note:</b> Even though the site may be viewed in alternate languages, the primary written language of our volunteer Support Team is English, and your answer will most likely be in that language.
As you might imagine, with so many members worldwide, the handful of folks behind the scenes here at BookCrossing.com receive a
<i>
lot</i>
of email every day. Before contacting us,<i>
please</i>
try these steps first:<br />
Visit our<a href="/faqs"><b>
FAQs</b></a>
, our<a href="/about"><b>
About Us</b></a>
page,<a href="/search"><b>
Search</b></a>
or make a post to our<a href="/forum/1"><b>
Newbies</b></a>
or<nobr><a href="/forum/4"><b>
Site Questions</b></a></nobr>
forums.<br /><br /><b>
Please note:</b>
Even though the site may be viewed in alternate languages, the primary written language of our volunteer Support Team is English, and your answer will most likely be in that language. -
As you can see from all the coverage below, the BookCrossing movement makes a <i>great</i> feature story. If you're a member of the press and would like to find interview subjects, we suggest <a href="/search">searching</a> for active members in your area, then sending them a "Private Message" from their bookshelf page (you'll need to <a href="/join">Join</a> first). If you're with a major news organization or publication, please <a href="/contact">contact us</a> for help in scheduling interviews with our members or founders. Thank you!
As you can see from all the coverage below, the BookCrossing movement makes a
<i>
great</i>
feature story. If you're a member of the press and would like to find interview subjects, we suggest<a href="/search">
searching</a>
for active members in your area, then sending them a "Private Message" from their bookshelf page (you'll need to<a href="/join">
Join</a>
first). If you're with a major news organization or publication, please<a href="/contact">
contact us</a>
for help in scheduling interviews with our members or founders. Thank you! -
<a href="/files/press/bookcrossing-media-kit-2010Q3.pdf" target="_blank"><b>BookCrossing Media Kit 2010-Q3</b> - PDF - 5.4 MB</a>
<a href="/files/press/bookcrossing-media-kit-2010Q3.pdf" target="_blank"><b>
BookCrossing Media Kit 2010-Q3</b>
- PDF - 5.4 MB</a>
-
All rights are hereby granted to any media publication who wishes to use these images of BookCrossing's founders, Ron Hornbaker, Bruce Pedersen and Heather Pedersen. Only two rules: <ol> <li>1. <a href="/contact"><b>Contact us</b></a> first, and </li> <li>2. Download the images to YOUR webserver (don't serve them from ours).</li> </ol>
All rights are hereby granted to any media publication who wishes to use these images of BookCrossing's
founders, Ron Hornbaker, Bruce Pedersen and Heather Pedersen. Only two rules:
<ol>
<li>
1.<a href="/contact"><b>
Contact us</b></a>
first, and</li>
<li>
2. Download the images to YOUR webserver (don't serve them from ours).</li>
</ol>
-
By using the BookCrossing site, you consent to the collection and use of your information as we have outlined in this policy. BookCrossing may decide to change this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will notify all our members by email so that you are always aware of the information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances we disclose it.
By using the BookCrossing site, you consent to the collection and use of your information as we have outlined in
this policy. BookCrossing may decide to change this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will notify all
our members by email so that you are always aware of the information we collect, how we use it, and under what
circumstances we disclose it. -
When you use the BookCrossing referral program (the "Referral Program"), we may ask you to provide information such as your email address and your friends' email addresses. In return, you and your friends will be given the opportunity to register with BookCrossing, and your friends will also be given the opportunity to make referrals to their friends. This feature helps us spread the word about BookCrossing. During and after participation in the Referral Program you and/or your friends may receive additional communications from us or our vendors in relation to the Referral Program and you and/or your friends' participation in it. The data collected through the Referral Program is only used for the operation and ongoing maintenance of the Referral Program and will not be distributed to any third parties other than those BookCrossing trusted partners that may be helping us in the operation and maintenance of the Referral Program. You and your friends may opt-out of participation in the Referral Program at any time via opt-out links in all communications made to you and your friends through the Referral Program or by sending an email to members_optout@BookCrossing.com.
When you use the BookCrossing referral program (the "Referral Program"), we may ask you to provide information such
as your email address and your friends' email addresses. In return, you and your friends will be given the opportunity
to register with BookCrossing, and your friends will also be given the opportunity to make referrals to their friends.
This feature helps us spread the word about BookCrossing. During and after participation in the Referral Program you
and/or your friends may receive additional communications from us or our vendors in relation to the Referral Program
and you and/or your friends' participation in it. The data collected through the Referral Program is only used for
the operation and ongoing maintenance of the Referral Program and will not be distributed to any third parties other
than those BookCrossing trusted partners that may be helping us in the operation and maintenance of the Referral
Program. You and your friends may opt-out of participation in the Referral Program at any time via opt-out links
in all communications made to you and your friends through the Referral Program or by sending an email to
members_optout@BookCrossing.com. -
BookCrossing does not share your personal membership information with any other company, individual, or organization. We do not and will not "sell" our member data to any advertisers, and nobody except us will ever contact you based on the information you provide to us. Note that your Member Profile page has two important options: your <i>Newsletter</i> preference, and your <i>Allow Members to Contact You Anonymously</i> option. You can turn these <i>on</i> or <i>off</i> at any time.
BookCrossing does not share your personal membership information with any other company, individual, or organization.
We do not and will not "sell" our member data to any advertisers, and nobody except us will ever contact you based on the
information you provide to us. Note that your Member Profile page has two important options: your<i>
Newsletter</i>
preference, and your<i>
Allow Members to Contact You Anonymously</i>
option. You can turn these<i>
on</i>
or<i>
off</i>
at any time. -
When someone under the age of 13 attempts to register with BookCrossing, we ask that he or she have a parent, teacher or librarian establish a BookCrossing Account for them. When any user registers for a BookCrossing account, we require first name, email address, birth date, city, state/province, country, and zip code. BookCrossing uses this information to create and maintain accounts, for research, and may use this information to customize the content seen on our pages. Under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, no web site operator can require, as a condition of participation in an activity, that a child under the age of 13 disclose more information than is reasonably necessary. BookCrossing abides by this requirement.
When someone under the age of 13 attempts to register with BookCrossing, we ask that he or she have a parent, teacher or librarian establish a BookCrossing Account for them. When any user registers for a BookCrossing account, we require first name, email address, birth date, city, state/province, country, and zip code. BookCrossing uses this information to create and maintain accounts, for research, and may use this information to customize the content seen on our pages. Under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, no web site operator can require, as a condition of participation in an activity, that a child under the age of 13 disclose more information than is reasonably necessary. BookCrossing abides by this requirement.
-
Co-Founder, CEO
Co-Founder, CEO
-
Heather has a strong record of entrepreneurial achievement in starting, developing and managing businesses. Her professional background encompasses experience in profit and goal-oriented marketing, management, finance and total profit and loss responsibility. She is extremely effective at organizing people and resources and is noted for her creative solutions to financing, management and marketing problems. Heather holds a Marketing and Fine Arts degree with honors from Lehigh University. Her career as a stockbroker and money manager and financial consultant has poised her for successful business management. In 1999, she co-authored The Log Home Plan Book.
Heather has a strong record of entrepreneurial achievement in starting, developing and managing businesses. Her professional background encompasses experience in profit and goal-oriented marketing, management, finance and total profit and loss responsibility. She is extremely effective at organizing people and resources and is noted for her creative solutions to financing, management and marketing problems. Heather holds a Marketing and Fine Arts degree with honors from Lehigh University. Her career as a stockbroker and money manager and financial consultant has poised her for successful business management. In 1999, she co-authored The Log Home Plan Book.
-
Ron was the creative visionary behind BookCrossing. Coupled with a keen talent and ability for web design and database development, Ron is one of those rare people who is both technical and market-side savvy. The website and its early successes were due to Ron, whose strong mark of recognition in the global web community was the catalyst to the company's popularity. Ron holds a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State University. He hung up his stethoscope in 1995 to pursue his tech impulses and talents, and his first achievement was "Visionarian"-a veterinary management software program pioneering the incorporation of video imaging of pets with invoicing. Video imaging is now the standard veterinary management tool used in North America.
Ron was the creative visionary behind BookCrossing. Coupled with a keen
talent and ability for web design and database development, Ron is one of those rare people who is both technical
and market-side savvy. The website and its early successes were due to Ron, whose strong mark of recognition in
the global web community was the catalyst to the company's popularity. Ron holds a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine
from Kansas State University. He hung up his stethoscope in 1995 to pursue his tech impulses and talents, and
his first achievement was "Visionarian"-a veterinary management software program pioneering the incorporation
of video imaging of pets with invoicing. Video imaging is now the standard veterinary management tool used in
North America. -
<span style="font-size:17px;color:#4D5621;line-height:21px;">Release it</span> into the wild. Referred to as the "wild release" (and loved by so many BookCrossers), this type of sharing is a bit like nudging a baby bird out of the nest or sending your kid off to college. Your book doesn’t want to spend its life on your shelf gathering dust; it wants to get out there and touch lives! So leave your labeled book on a park bench on a summer day, in a train station, on the table in your favorite coffee shop -- anywhere it’s likely to be caught by another delighted reader. Then come back and read about your book’s new adventures!
<span style="font-size:17px;color:#4D5621;line-height:21px;">
Release it</span>
into the wild. Referred to as the "wild release" (and loved by so many BookCrossers), this type of sharing is a bit like nudging a baby bird out of the nest or sending your kid off to college. Your book doesn’t want to spend its life on your shelf gathering dust; it wants to get out there and touch lives! So leave your labeled book on a park bench on a summer day, in a train station, on the table in your favorite coffee shop -- anywhere it’s likely to be caught by another delighted reader. Then come back and read about your book’s new adventures! -
<h3>BookPlate Creator</h3> <p>If you click the box "Make My Bookplate Public" you are agreeing to the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions:</p> <p>You hereby grant BookCrossing an perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, global license to use, copy, publish, stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display, transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate, excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute, any photos, images or content you upload. You may remove your photo from the Site at any time but if another user has placed an order and paid while using your photo, the order will be processed and reproduced. The license granted above will automatically expire, however you acknowledge that any orders placed before you remove your photo will be processed. You are responsible for all of the images you upload to our site. You must have the legal right to copy and display each image that you upload, share or print. You should assume that all text, graphics and images that you find on the World Wide Web are subject to a copyright. In general, it is a violation of federal law to copy text, graphics or images that are subject to a copyright and use the copyrighted material on custom products created using this service without the consent of the owner of the copyright. Before copying any text, graphics or images, you must confirm that it is in the public domain and not subject to a copyright or obtain the consent of the owner of the copyright to use the material. You authorize BookCrossing.com to cooperate with copyright owners who claim that you have infringed or may infringe their intellectual property rights. This cooperation includes, but is not limited to taking the following action without notice: disclosing your material and any other information you have disclosed to us to the copyright owner or its agent and destroying all alleged infringing material. BookCrossing.com may also suspend or terminate the account of a customer who appears to be infringing Intellectual Property, and may take further appropriate action.</p> <p>The fact that we produce the custom bookplate does not mean that: (1) we approve or endorse the content of the custom bookplate, (2) the custom bookplate complies with all applicable laws, or (3) you will not incur any liability or harm arising from the custom bookplate.</p> <p>Furthermore, you agree to refrain from using the BookCrossing.com services, your customized bookplates, or images of your customized bookplates in any manner that would cause damage to the public reputation of BookCrossing.com, its employees, shareholders, board members, or partners. In the event that you use or publicly display your customized bookplate, including by display on the Internet, in order to intentionally bring harm to BookCrossing.com, its employees, shareholders, board members or partners, BookCrossing.com reserves the right to demand the immediate return of your customized products.</p>
<h3>
BookPlate Creator</h3>
<p>
If you click the box "Make My Bookplate Public" you are agreeing to the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions:</p>
<p>
You hereby grant BookCrossing an perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, global license to use, copy, publish, stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display, transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate, excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute, any photos, images or content you upload. You may remove your photo from the Site at any time but if another user has placed an order and paid while using your photo, the order will be processed and reproduced. The license granted above will automatically expire, however you acknowledge that any orders placed before you remove your photo will be processed. You are responsible for all of the images you upload to our site. You must have the legal right to copy and display each image that you upload, share or print. You should assume that all text, graphics and images that you find on the World Wide Web are subject to a copyright. In general, it is a violation of federal law to copy text, graphics or images that are subject to a copyright and use the copyrighted material on custom products created using this service without the consent of the owner of the copyright. Before copying any text, graphics or images, you must confirm that it is in the public domain and not subject to a copyright or obtain the consent of the owner of the copyright to use the material. You authorize BookCrossing.com to cooperate with copyright owners who claim that you have infringed or may infringe their intellectual property rights. This cooperation includes, but is not limited to taking the following action without notice: disclosing your material and any other information you have disclosed to us to the copyright owner or its agent and destroying all alleged infringing material. BookCrossing.com may also suspend or terminate the account of a customer who appears to be infringing Intellectual Property, and may take further appropriate action.</p>
<p>
The fact that we produce the custom bookplate does not mean that: (1) we approve or endorse the content of the custom bookplate, (2) the custom bookplate complies with all applicable laws, or (3) you will not incur any liability or harm arising from the custom bookplate.</p>
<p>
Furthermore, you agree to refrain from using the BookCrossing.com services, your customized bookplates, or images of your customized bookplates in any manner that would cause damage to the public reputation of BookCrossing.com, its employees, shareholders, board members, or partners. In the event that you use or publicly display your customized bookplate, including by display on the Internet, in order to intentionally bring harm to BookCrossing.com, its employees, shareholders, board members or partners, BookCrossing.com reserves the right to demand the immediate return of your customized products.</p>
-
“A book is not only a friend, it makes friends for you. When you have possessed a book with mind and spirit, you are enriched. But when you pass it on you are enriched threefold.”<br /><br /> <p class="right"> — Henry Miller<br /> The Books In My Life (1969)</p>
“A book is not only a friend, it makes friends for you. When you have possessed a book with mind and spirit, you are enriched. But when you pass it on you are enriched threefold.”
<br /><br />
<p class="right">
— Henry Miller<br />
The Books In My Life (1969)</p>
-
<h3>What <i>is</i> BookCrossing?</h3> <p>It's the World's Library. It's a smart social networking site. It's a celebration of literature and a place where books get new life. BookCrossing is the act of giving a book a unique identity so, as the book is passed from reader to reader, it can be tracked and thus connecting its readers. There are currently <b>{0} BookCrossers</b> and <b>{1} books</b> travelling throughout <b>132 countries</b>. Our community is changing the world and touching lives one book at a time.</p> <h3>What's our mission?</h3> <p>Very simply, we aim to connect people through books.</p> <h3>How do we do it?</h3> <p><b>Label. Share. Follow.</b> Breathe new life into books instead of letting your old favorites collect dust - pass them along to another reader. Our online archival and tracking system allows members to connect with other readers, journal and review literature and trade and follow their books as lives are changed through “reading and releasing”. Users are able to tag and track their individual books by marking them with BCIDs (BookCrossing Identity Numbers). Each BCID is unique to each book – once it’s registered on our site, the book can then be followed and journaled forever. BookCrossing is <b>free to join and free to play.</b> So don't be 'shelf'ish with your books - <b>read and release!</b></p> <h3>When and how did it start?</h3> <p>Although there were websites tracking things such as dollar bills and pictures, business partner Ron Hornbaker noted that nothing existed for tracking books. After all, books were more than just tangible objects, rather they possessed elements of emotional attachment and strong opinion; books were not only items collected and revered, but were intrinsically <b> shared.</b> This was the nidus that began our journey. With the help of Ron's wife, Kaori, and cofounders Bruce & Heather Pedersen, the site <b>was launched on April 21, 2001.</b> The site remains a fun way to track and share books while connecting people at deeper levels using books as the architecture and glue to facilitate the Great Conversation. </p> <h3>Who are we?</h3> <p>The <b><a href="/management">team</a></b> that continues to make all of this happen is based in <b>Sandpoint, Idaho</b>. However, the site could not function without <b>the generous BookCrossing volunteers</b> from around the world who help with various projects, spread the movement, and handle support questions.</p> <h3>Who are BookCrossers?</h3> <p><b>BookCrossers love their books and love to read</b> them. They tend to be <b>the most generous, innovative, earth-friendly, good-hearted, whimsical, fun and educated</b> people on the face of the planet. </p> <h3>Where in the world is BookCrossing:</h3> <p><b>Here are the top 10 BookCrossing countries:</b></p> <ol> <li> USA 29%</li> <li> Germany 16%</li> <li> United Kingdom 13%</li> <li> Netherlands 11%</li> <li> Finland 10%</li> <li> Canada 8%</li> <li> Australia 5%</li> <li> France 4%</li> <li> Portugal 3%</li> <li> Spain 1%</li> </ol><p> </p> <h3>Is there more to BookCrossing?</h3> <p>“So I can follow my books checked into the World’s Library. That’s cool, but <b>is there more?"</b> <br /> <br /> <b>You bet! You can...</b><br /> <br /> <b>Join</b> the World's Library<br /> <b>Manage</b> your bookshelf (both on and offline)<br /> <b>Create</b> customized bookplates for all your books<br /> <b>Hunt</b> for books in your neighborhood or around the world using the “Go Hunting” pages<br /> <b>Chat</b> in the forums about books, authors or anything else<br /> <b>Start</b> an Official BookCrossing Zone (OBCZ) in your library, classroom, office or coffee shop<br /> <b>Connect</b> with Members around the world (on and offline)<br /> <b>Travel</b> to BookCrossing Conventions (currently held on 5 continents)<br /> <b>Review</b> Journal Entries to determine reading preferences and find great books<br /> <b>Buy</b> books at a discount<br /> <b>Share</b> books with other BookCrossers<br /> <b>Check out</b> the Mapping Feature to see where your books have been<br /> <b>Participate</b> in a Random Act of BookCrossing Kindness (RABCK)<br /> <b>Mentor</b> a BookCrossing Newbie<br /> <b>Read</b> our Newsletter for the latest and greatest in the book world<br /> <b>Follow</b> us on MySpace, Twitter, Snaptell and Facebook<br /> <b>Send</b> virtual gifts to your BookCrossing friends and family<br /> <b>Enter</b> contests and win cool prizes<br /> <b>Involve</b> yourself in a themed releases<br /> <b>Get published</b> by sending in your article & photo for our newsletter</p>
<h3>
What<i>
is</i>
BookCrossing?</h3>
<p>
It's the World's Library. It's a smart social networking site. It's a celebration of literature and a place where books get new life. BookCrossing is the act of giving a book a unique identity so, as the book is passed from reader to reader, it can be tracked and thus connecting its readers. There are currently<b>
{0} BookCrossers</b>
and<b>
{1} books</b>
travelling throughout<b>
132 countries</b>
. Our community is changing the world and touching lives one book at a time.</p>
<h3>
What's our mission?</h3>
<p>
Very simply, we aim to connect people through books.</p>
<h3>
How do we do it?</h3>
<p><b>
Label. Share. Follow.</b>
Breathe new life into books instead of letting your old favorites collect dust - pass them along to another reader. Our online archival and tracking system allows members to connect with other readers, journal and review literature and trade and follow their books as lives are changed through “reading and releasing”. Users are able to tag and track their individual books by marking them with BCIDs (BookCrossing Identity Numbers). Each BCID is unique to each book – once it’s registered on our site, the book can then be followed and journaled forever. BookCrossing is<b>
free to join and free to play.</b>
So don't be 'shelf'ish with your books -<b>
read and release!</b></p>
<h3>
When and how did it start?</h3>
<p>
Although there were websites tracking things such as dollar bills and
pictures, business partner Ron Hornbaker noted that nothing existed for
tracking books. After all, books were more than just tangible objects,
rather they possessed elements of emotional attachment and strong opinion;
books were not only items collected and revered, but were intrinsically<b>
shared.</b>
This was the nidus that began our journey. With the help of Ron's
wife, Kaori, and cofounders Bruce & Heather Pedersen, the site<b>
was launched
on April 21, 2001.</b>
The site remains a fun way to track and share books
while connecting people at deeper levels using books as the architecture and
glue to facilitate the Great Conversation.</p>
<h3>
Who are we?</h3>
<p>
The<b><a href="/management">
team</a></b>
that continues to make all of this happen is based in<b>
Sandpoint, Idaho</b>
. However, the site could not function without<b>
the generous BookCrossing volunteers</b>
from around the world who help with various projects, spread the movement, and handle support questions.</p>
<h3>
Who are BookCrossers?</h3>
<p><b>
BookCrossers love their books and love to read</b>
them. They tend to be<b>
the most generous, innovative, earth-friendly, good-hearted, whimsical, fun and educated</b>
people on the face of the planet.</p>
<h3>
Where in the world is BookCrossing:</h3>
<p><b>
Here are the top 10 BookCrossing countries:</b></p>
<ol>
<li>
USA 29%</li>
<li>
Germany 16%</li>
<li>
United Kingdom 13%</li>
<li>
Netherlands 11%</li>
<li>
Finland 10%</li>
<li>
Canada 8%</li>
<li>
Australia 5%</li>
<li>
France 4%</li>
<li>
Portugal 3%</li>
<li>
Spain 1%</li>
</ol><p>
</p>
<h3>
Is there more to BookCrossing?</h3>
<p>
“So I can follow my books checked into the World’s Library. That’s cool, but<b>
is there more?"</b>
<br />
<br />
<b>
You bet! You can...</b><br />
<br />
<b>
Join</b>
the World's Library<br />
<b>
Manage</b>
your bookshelf (both on and offline)<br />
<b>
Create</b>
customized bookplates for all your books<br />
<b>
Hunt</b>
for books in your neighborhood or around the world using the “Go Hunting” pages<br />
<b>
Chat</b>
in the forums about books, authors or anything else<br />
<b>
Start</b>
an Official BookCrossing Zone (OBCZ) in your library, classroom, office or coffee shop<br />
<b>
Connect</b>
with Members around the world (on and offline)<br />
<b>
Travel</b>
to BookCrossing Conventions (currently held on 5 continents)<br />
<b>
Review</b>
Journal Entries to determine reading preferences and find great books<br />
<b>
Buy</b>
books at a discount<br />
<b>
Share</b>
books with other BookCrossers<br />
<b>
Check out</b>
the Mapping Feature to see where your books have been<br />
<b>
Participate</b>
in a Random Act of BookCrossing Kindness (RABCK)<br />
<b>
Mentor</b>
a BookCrossing Newbie<br />
<b>
Read</b>
our Newsletter for the latest and greatest in the book world<br />
<b>
Follow</b>
us on MySpace, Twitter, Snaptell and Facebook<br />
<b>
Send</b>
virtual gifts to your BookCrossing friends and family<br />
<b>
Enter</b>
contests and win cool prizes<br />
<b>
Involve</b>
yourself in a themed releases<br />
<b>
Get published</b>
by sending in your article & photo for our newsletter</p>