A wordy treasure hunt, a sort of message in a bottle, a chance to toast the extraordinary specialness of books, are just a few phrases that capture Ards Borough Council’s latest campaign, which will see visitors to Portaferry’s Tourist Information Centre recycle and share their much-loved books.
Inspired by the Guardian’s great autumnal book swap, ‘Pass It On’, which saw thousands of people across the UK leaving previously enjoyed books in public places for others to find, the idea is that readers will enjoy a book while on holiday then leave it into the Tourist Information Centre in Portaferry and pick up their next read.
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Portaferry is a popular tourist destination in County Down. Pictured are visitors returning across Strangford Lough after a festival gala parade.[/caption]
The ‘Pass It On’ campaign ticks all the right boxes – recycling, encouraging reading, and giving something back, however, as Tourist Information Centre Supervisor Judith Hammond explained, it is the spirit behind the innovative new scheme that is perhaps the most inspiring. She said: “In an increasingly virtual age book swapping offers a rare treat: a real book, left by a stranger, simply celebrating how wonderful they found it to be. Tourists are encouraged to enjoy a book, and then pass it on to someone else, sharing and re-sharing much-loved stories and celebrating the joy of reading.
“The campaign has the potential to create a truly positive chain reaction as visitors avail of the opportunity to share their passion for reading, be eco-friendly, and inspire someone else by passing it on.”
The bookswap begins this bank holiday weekend (25-27 May). This is a chance for writers and readers to indulge in a grand act of recycling by taking a favourite book, inserting a tribute to its greatness and leaving it in the Tourist Information Centre to be found by someone new.
For more information contact Portaferry Tourist Information Centre, email: tourism.portaferry@ards-
