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June 16, 2004
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IN THIS ISSUE...



WHAT'S GOING ON

This is so cool that when I saw it, I knew I had the lead item for the newsletter. It seems a group of French BookCrossers has found a rare type of book-growing tree. Their descriptions and links to more photos can be found by clicking on the link below:

Growing books in trees in France...
http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/9/701722/

Bookplate Art Auction at eBay!
Remember the 5th-edition Poultry in Motion bookplate labels? The original 19.5"x15.5" acrylic on canvas by artist Melissa Wotherspoon is currently being auctioned on eBay, with the proceeds to go to help support BookCrossing. It's a NO RESERVE auction starting at only $1, so someone will definitely get it 7 days from now, maybe at a great price. If you're an art collector, or just want to help BookCrossing in a big way, head on over and place a bid... I'll announce the winner in next week's newsletter:

Poultry in Motion auction
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3730783916

The last auction of Reading Dr. Seuss didn't quite meet the reserve of $500, which was set by the little girl's father who really really wanted the piece.

Kansas City Library to hold First Annual Teen BookCrossing Party
The Central Library of the Kansas City Public Library in Kansas City, Missouri, will be throwing quite an event for the city's teens and young adults on Saturday, July 17, 2004. Since the library is very close to where I live, I'll be joining the fun with a little presentation of my own, but Children's Librarian Stephanie Iser is doing most of the work.

Stephanie could use your help in two ways:

  1. If you're a local (to Kansas City) BookCrosser, she'd really appreciate your help in organizing/brainstorming the event. Contact her by Private Messaging from her bookshelf (screenname kc-library-ys) or call (816)701-3400 x4280.
  2. If you have some teen or young-adult books you could spare, please ship them to Stephanie so they arrive prior to July 17:
    Stephanie Iser (Youth Services)
    Central Library
    14 W. 10th St
    Kansas City, MO 64105
If you're anywhere close to Kansas City, and you'd like to come join us and say "howdy" to me in person, please do so! All ages are welcome at the event, and it is free of cost. More details here: http://www.bookcrossing.com/newscontent/2


GET A CAN OF CONDENSED KNOWLEDGE

Most long-term BookCrossers will recognize that the folks at mental_floss magazine have been supporting BookCrossing since the early days. They run a full-page 4-color ad for BookCrossing in each of their monthly issues in return for us promoting their most excellent mag, which is growing like crazy, by the way. Sort of like us.

Anyway, I've got a new way you can show your gratitude to mental_floss. Will Pearson, the president of the magazine, and his cohorts have released Condensed Knowledge, a book that is perfect for BookCrossing, because anyone who sees it will want to pick it up and read it:

Condensed Knowledge
http://www.condensedknowledge.com/

It's highly entertaining stuff. For example, did you know that a much higher percentage of men (72%) report belly button lint (BBL) as opposed to women (27%), but, curiously, that the color of the BBL doesn't seem to correspond to the clothes that people wear? Well, I didn't know that, but I do now, after reading Condensed Knowledge. And that's just the start of all the amazing stuff — much of it useful, even — you'll learn. You can buy it straight from their online store at http://www.mentalfloss.com/cgi-bin/thatsanorder_LE - tell 'em I sent you.


EIGHT GREAT BOOKCROSSING ARTICLES

FACE YOUR ADDICTION
A ten step program for Bookcrossers
by Vysion

I got caught up in the wonder of Bookcrossing. I registered many, many books I haven't read yet but I won't let myself feel pressured anymore. Although Mt. TBR (to be read) is huge, I want to read and enjoy these books....

[read it all at http://www.bookcrossing.com/articles/1147]


PC OR NOT PC??
Suggestions on the "permanent collection" status
by laprofe

You might have seen that some books are "travelling", and that word has a yellow background. Others are available, in green like a traffic light that seems to mean "Go ahead and catch me!" Reserved and to-be-read status are self-explanatory. But then... What does Permanent Collection, with its stern grey background, mean? If the purpose of BookCrossing is to let books see the world, why do some people register books that are permanently theirs? It is not as contradictory as it seems, and learning to use the permanent collection status and its etiquette can improve your use of Bookcrossing. ...

[read it all at http://www.bookcrossing.com/articles/1235]


"TO BE READ"
Notes on a catch
by waywenoc

Ahh, the thrill of the catch! And it was a fresh one, too. The Starbucks was crowded today, so serendipity lead me away from my usual perch at the corner window to the smaller counter on the Columbia Street side. I was busy juggling my soy latte (no decaf for me today!) and fruit bar to notice it until I sat down....

[read it all at http://www.bookcrossing.com/articles/1237]


BOOKS: CASANOVAS AND COURTESANS
The seduction techniques of books
by ducdesesseintes

Choosing a book is like choosing a lover. I have often picked up a smooth gift hardback whose plumpness suggested I would be well sated. 'If I took you home, you would sustain me for some time.'...

[read it all at http://www.bookcrossing.com/articles/1238]


CREATING AN OBCZ
How to Market Your Business with BookCrossing OBCZ's
by Yvonne (yvi-1)

Do you want to draw avid readers into your store? If you do, set up an Official Book Crossing Zone (OBCZ) at www.BookCrossing.com and you just might see an increase in traffic as well as an increase in sales! Readers like to buy books, sit around and read and perhaps eat, and like to talk to other readers. So if your business would benefit from having free books available for customers to read, you just might want to set up an OBCZ. There are a few simple steps and then you are on your way!...

[read it all at http://www.bookcrossing.com/articles/1242]


A SENSE OF EXCITEMENT
Another layer to our vacation
by susanwaz

We are leaving on our big vacation in a few days. My husband who is a copy editor for a major newspaper and an avid student of history and politics will be visiting Washington DC for the first time in his 56 year old life. We will travel nearly across the entire nation - Arizona to DC - by car with his sister and my 22 year old daughter. We will visit so many friends and family along the way, many of whom he has not met since we have only been married two and one half years....

[read it all at http://www.bookcrossing.com/articles/1245]


CRACKING THE BOOKCROSSING ENIGMA
A Newbie's Initiation into the Strange World of BookCrossing
by MyopicMeringue

I confess I joined BookCrossing with not the slightest idea what it was about. Well, I guessed it was about books, but I imagined it must simply be a big online book club, where everyone chats about the books they�ve read....

[read it all at http://www.bookcrossing.com/articles/1255]


'CROSSING OVER
Turning those old bargain books into new BookCrossing books
by Holly (kz4ufo)

Most BookCrossers cannot resist the urge to buy bargain books from used bookstores, thrift shops, library sales and flea markets. Quite often, these books have been neglected by their previous owners and not in the best shape. There are a few things that can be done to turn those bargain books into new BookCrossing converts....

[read it all at http://www.bookcrossing.com/articles/1295]


CALL FOR WRITERS

Want to write for BookCrossing? If your article is accepted, you could see it featured here in the next newsletter. What topics do we need? Anything about books, reading, or BookCrossing — tutorials, release and catch stories, well-traveled book stories, funny BookCrossing experience stories — you get the idea. Write it up, then submit it here:

http://www.bookcrossing.com/articles/submit




GLOBAL MEMBERSHIP STATS

Top 10 All-Time
USA 133,218 (50%)
CANADA 20,601 (8%)
UNITED KINGDOM 17,344 (7%)
GERMANY 15,612 (6%)
SPAIN 12,797 (5%)
ITALY 11,021 (4%)
AUSTRALIA 10,842 (4%)
PORTUGAL 3,267 (1%)
FRANCE 3,202 (1%)
NEW ZEALAND 2,946 (1%)

Top 10 Last Week
USA 880 (40%)
GERMANY 224 (10%)
AUSTRALIA 192 (9%)
UNITED KINGDOM 157 (7%)
CANADA 146 (7%)
SPAIN 144 (7%)
FRANCE 42 (2%)
ITALY 30 (1%)
NEW ZEALAND 30 (1%)
AUSTRIA 21 (1%)



SARAH'S SUPPLY STORE NEWS

[Editor's Note: This newsletter's Supply Store content is brought to you by Sarah Parsons, who recently started working in our store in Idaho and answering your support email. If I told you how young she is, you wouldn't believe me, so I won't. But we're all very happy to have Sarah on board at BookCrossing.com.]

GOODY - NEW GOODIES!
It's always exciting when the BookCrossing Supply Store gets in a new product. Each prodigiously peachy piece offers us an exciting, electrifying, evangelistic way to spread the joy of BookCrossing throughout the world. In light of this, you will all be delighted to know that this week, the Store will be featuring not just one, but four new items for your enjoyment!

BC Stickers...One of these products has been available for a few days now - Tiny BookCrossing Stickers. They have been a huge hit, judging by the forums, and for good reason! These little chaps are about as versatile as they get. They work well as a handy, last-minute, put-it-anywhere decoration, as a means of quickly organizing and identifying your BookCrossed books on the shelf, as envelope sealers or a great way to cheer up letters, as miniature bumper stickers or gifts� they even, as member annulla suggested in the forums, can work well as a colorful pair of on-the-go earrings! Get creative, and go wild with these darlings!

In addition to the latest enemy of any member of Stickeraholics Anonymous, we are featuring lovely BookCrossing caps and tote bags, as well as new stock bookplate labels (see pics below) to suit the needs of label-hungry BookCrossers who don't care as much for any of the current artist labels. Head on over to the Supply Store and check things out!"

BC caps...
(no, the model doesn't come with the cap!)

BC Tote Bags...
BC Tote Bags are perfect for the beach!

BC Stock Labels...
Stock Labels in high-quality pads of 25, just like our limited-edition artist series bookplates


Are you an artist? If you'd like your art to be featured on a future Bookplate series, please contact us at http://www.bookcrossing.com/contact. In exchange for the considerable exposure you'll get here and in the future on those 50,000 traveling books, we ask for only the original artwork, which we'll auction to further help support BookCrossing.


SSM26 FOR FATHERS

BookCrosser sp4home suggested in the forums that we do a Father's Day-related SSM next weekend. While we acknowledge the fact that Father's Day isn't celebrated in some countries, it's still nice to honor one's father, grandfather, step-father, etc. So without further ado, here is SSM26...

Your SSM26 Assignment:

  • RELEASE ZONE: A father/grandfather/step-father or fatherly hang-out near you.
  • RELEASE METHOD: Either do a controlled release directly to your target catcher, or, for the more adventurous souls out there, you might try to hide a book where your target will least expect it.
  • RELEASE TIME: This Sunday, June 20, 2004.

The 10 Rules of Sunday Sunset Missions:

  1. Don't talk about SSMs!
  2. Don't talk about SSMs! (you need to read or see Fight Club for that to make sense)
  3. Be on time! You can get the exact sunset time from http://www.weather.com/.
  4. Label the books properly. At the minimum, this means a sticky-note on the outside making it clear that the book is FREE and NOT LOST (don't write anything on the outside to cause others alarm!), and a good, descriptive label inside the cover explaining BookCrossing and including the BCID for the book.
  5. If possible, choose a book with content appropriate to the release location.
  6. If possible, print out one of the press articles from http://www.bookcrossing.com/press and include it with the book (the Utne Reader or Reader's Digest articles work well).
  7. Take pictures! Those of you with digital cameras, try to take a picture of the release zone with books, upload it with your journal entry, and make a post with the journal entry link in the SSM forum at http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/21.
  8. Be safe! Use your common sense, and don't do anything to endanger persons or property.
  9. Pay attention to the media the following day or two, try to note any mention of the SSM, and post such mentions to the SSM forum.
  10. And finally, have fun!


As always, Happy Crossing!

Ron Hornbaker
Founder and Editor, BookCrossing.com

ps. I've heard a rumor that some of you discovered my impending 38th birthday next week, June 24. Well, I'd just like to make it perfectly clear that sending me postcards, XL t-shirts, or books to 415 Winnebago Drive, Lake Winnebago, Missouri, 64034 USA, is highly inappropriate, and any such items received will be photographed for evidence and published in this very newsletter to publicly shame the perpetrator(s). Don't let me catch you breaking this rule!





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Supply Store
bc supply store Shop online at our secure Supply Store to buy Bookplate Labels, Bookmarks, Sticky-notes, Release Kits, Stampers, T-Shirts and more! Every purchase or donation made there directly supports the BookCrossing website, and will earn your Wings.

bookcrossing meetups
Did you know BookCrossers are meeting-up together in cities all over the world, the second Tuesday of each month? Go to Meetup.com and find out where your meeting will be!