Tips for giving away books while touring?

[RestlessSpinster]

Hey fellow riders,
Inspired by cycling librarians (see bibliobicicleta.org  and  magazine.good.is/articles/bike-libraries), I've hatched an idea to combine a cross-country tour with a love of books and a concern about racial/social justice issues to... give books away to people living in "book deserts" along the route. Thinking of calling it "Biking, Books & Black Lives Matter." Working title.

Has anyone out there ever done anything like this? Cycling around my home town of Seattle would be one thing, but cross-country is quite another. I imagine partnering with libraries/book stores/community groups along the way, shipping books ahead and then distributing them from hubs.  (Rather than hauling a load of books every pedal stroke of the way.)

Would love to hear any tips or resources you can pass along. Thanks!

[PeteJack]

I'm like you; I cannot tour without a good book and don't have any good ideas as to what to do with them once finished it. If it's a real classic I might mail it back home otherwise potboilers I'll leave in motel rooms in the forlorn hope that some cleaner might discover literature. I often stop by libraries and they many times have books they are trying to get rid of for a few cents. You'd think that would be a good place to find some reading but it's usually pretty dismal stuff. There's a reason why they are getting rid of it.

[staehpj1]

I have seen a lot of little impromptu "leave a book take a book racks" in little general stores, campgrounds, and other places.  I used to use them, but I actually tend to read less on tour than when at home.  When I do read on tour these days it is most likely by listening to audio books on my phone.  If not audio then I am more likely to take my Kindle than paper books.

I wish RestlessSpinster luck.  It sounds like a worthwhile project, but to be honest, having done a couple cross country tours, I don't think that cycling cross country is a great venue for this.  Maybe you would be better off to pick a route that targets the sort of locations you want to help rather than go cross country.  The bike tour - book tour thing just seems like a forced fit.

Since you are in Seattle, as a reality check it wouldn't hurt to try riding east across Eastern Washington or Eastern Oregon for a trial run.  Maybe you will find out that I am wrong, but I kind of doubt it.

[RestlessSpinster]

Thanks for the thoughts and suggestions... agreed it might be a better idea to research select locations in advance rather than try to tack a book tour on top of a bike tour. I'm noodling on the idea.