Almaty Libraries’ Summer Bookcrossing Project Comes to an End

The summer bookcrossing project in Almaty has come to an end after running for three months in the city’s parks. Launched on June 1, the project brought together residents and visitors, offering them an opportunity to read books outdoors, take books they liked home, and share books they had already read with others.

The bookcrossing initiative was held in Karagaily Park, M. Makatayev Park and Gandhi Park. Throughout the summer holidays, the locations served as accessible spaces for reading and book exchange, where book lovers could choose books for themselves and contribute new editions to the shared collection.

Over the three-month period, the total book collection reached around 5,000 books. Approximately 6,000 readers visited the bookcrossing locations, with around 2,000 of them taking books home to read. Visitors not only took books but also returned the editions they had read, contributing to the growth of the collection. Over the three months, they brought and added 2,023 books to the shelves.

Thus, the summer project became not only a space for free book exchange but also an additional opportunity to promote reading among residents and visitors of the city. The bookcrossing locations helped increase interest in books, foster a culture of reading, and attract new readers to libraries.