# Free Book Exchanges Recession-Proof ‘BookCrossing ' Tracks Recycled Book Travels By Katie Cordrey | Published 2009-04-12 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/free-book-exchange-recession-friendly-bookcrossing-read-release-track-books References: [freerepublic](http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2226399/posts) & [bookcrossing](http://www.bookcrossing.com/newscontent/568) ‘Bookcrossing’ is the practice of leaving a book in a public place so it can picked up and read by others, who in turn leave it in a public place, and so on. Environmentally kind and recession-friendly, it’s an appealing way to share no longer used or wanted volumes with others. Once set free, bookcrossed publications can be tracked on the BookCrossing website. Similar to the Where’s George site which tracks money from spender to spender, BookCrossing is an experiment where readers “release a book into the wild,” complete with a web-generated tracking number, and hopefully see where it goes. There are online [groups](http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BookCrossing/) and [forums](http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum) where bookcrossers discuss their finds and books’ adventures. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.8/10 - Popularity: 20% | Activity: 87% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Bookcrossing:** BookCrossing is a trend that involves leaving books in public places for others to find and read, creating a community of book-sharing. - **Recycled Books:** The trend of recycled books allows for the re-use and sharing of books that are no longer needed or wanted, promoting sustainability and reducing waste. - **Web-generated Tracking:** The trend of web-generated tracking, similar to the Where's George site for money, allows readers to track the journey of their released book and see where it ends up. ### Who This Affects Most - **Publishing:** The publishing industry can explore the BookCrossing trend to engage readers in a new way and create a sense of community around shared books. - **Sustainable Products:** The sustainable products industry can incorporate recycled books as part of their offerings and promote the concept of reusing resources. - **Technology:** The technology industry can develop innovative web-generated tracking platforms for various items, including books, to enhance user experiences and create new forms of engagement. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Open-Air Libraries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ikea-billyotheque.md) - [Book Price Finders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reading-cheap.md) - [Communal Reading Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reading-rhythms.md) - [Book Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cornwall-public-library.md) - [Curated Book Directories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bizarre-bookshelf.md) - [Gamified Book Trackers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/novelquest.md) - [Reading Habit Trackers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bookends1.md) - [Book Discovery Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/book-chat-noir.md) - [Book-Themed Bar Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/book-bar-toronto.md)