Book lovers in Islington can swap, share and borrow their favourite novels as part of The Book Switch, a new online community that launched on Facebook last Saturday.
The group allows locals to request or offer books and arrange meetings to exchange them in a socially distanced manner.
Katy Threadgold, a 30-year-old supply chain manager who founded The Book Switch, said: “A book swap isn’t exactly a new thing but I just noticed that there wasn’t one in the Highbury and Islington area that I could find – so I just thought ‘why not start one up?’
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while, particularly over these lockdowns where I’ve been doing a lot more reading. And with libraries being closed, it’s not as easy to go and borrow a book.”
Libraries in Islington are closed due to Covid-19 restrictions; some have remained shut for the whole pandemic such as the South Library on Essex Road.
The Book Switch can help people deal with other aspects of Covid-19 life, Katy said. “There’s also a social aspect. We’re not seeing people as much now, and there are probably a lot of people feeling quite isolated and struggling. It’s good to be part of something.
“As much as we will follow the social distancing rules that are still in place when we do the swaps, it’s a chance to walk over to the next street and have a quick chat with somebody when you pass your books over.”
Katy’s lockdown reads – which may soon find their way across Islington – have included Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing and Nell Frizzell’s The Panic Years. Katy hopes that Daisy May Cooper’s upcoming release Don’t Laugh, It Will Only Encourage Her may find its way on to The Book Switch.
Book lovers are encouraged to join the Facebook group either to post about a book they are willing to give away or about one they are looking for.
“I didn’t envisage it to be that you have to give a book to get a book, it is kind of a more casual thing… it’s very much a work in progress,” Katy said. “I’m hoping more people will join and share their ideas as well.”
