<p class="title">A unique online initiative is bridging book lovers and helping them share their personal collections. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Read A Book is a book-sharing community with about 400 members. Even if you have just two books or no book at all, you can be a part of this community.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Two bibliophiles launched the altruistic initiative two years ago. They pay for the delivery of books.</p>.<p class="bodytext">You can request a book and it will be delivered to your doorstep within seven days. You can donate books to the community.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The idea is to share books simply gathering dust on the shelves, as well as get hold of books from others' collection.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><br />How it works</p>.<p class="bodytext">A Facebook page called 'Read A Book' is the point of contact. When you hit the 'Book now' button, it opens a Google document. Along with your address, you enter the title of the book you would like to read.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><br />If the book is available within the community, it will be delivered by courier or hand within seven days.</p>.<p class="bodytext">You can keep a book for a month. Once you are done with the reading, someone from 'Read A Book' will collect the book. No charges applied.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Some members own about 1,000 books, while others have just two or three.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Fiction is the mainstay of the community at the moment. Members keep track of all new publications and bestsellers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Some books popular in the network now are An Unsuitable Boy, Shantaram, Catcher in the Rye, The Fountainhead, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Train to Pakistan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Some readers want books in Kannada. We will go in for Kannada books if more people ask for it," said Kanica Jindal, founder of the community.</p>.<p class="bodytext">At the moment, her sheer love of books is fuelling the service, but readers are wondering whether it is sustainable.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Monish Koppa, partner, Rent A Book, says: "Some prefer paperbacks to Kindle e-books even in today's digital era. The pleasure of reading physical books is unique." </p>.<p class="bodytext">He believes sharing books is healthy and promotes discussion. Once a month, members come together offline and discuss their favourite books.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><br />Box</p>.<p class="CutOffHead">Interested?</p>.<p class="bodytext">* Go to Facebook page Rent A Book.</p>.<p class="bodytext">* Click on the 'Book Now' button.</p>.<p class="bodytext">* Enter the title of the book you want to read.</p>.<p class="bodytext">* It is couriered or hand-delivered to you.</p>.<p class="bodytext">* Read and return it after a month.</p>.<p class="bodytext">* No charges. It's completely free!</p>
<p class="title">A unique online initiative is bridging book lovers and helping them share their personal collections. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Read A Book is a book-sharing community with about 400 members. Even if you have just two books or no book at all, you can be a part of this community.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Two bibliophiles launched the altruistic initiative two years ago. They pay for the delivery of books.</p>.<p class="bodytext">You can request a book and it will be delivered to your doorstep within seven days. You can donate books to the community.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The idea is to share books simply gathering dust on the shelves, as well as get hold of books from others' collection.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><br />How it works</p>.<p class="bodytext">A Facebook page called 'Read A Book' is the point of contact. When you hit the 'Book now' button, it opens a Google document. Along with your address, you enter the title of the book you would like to read.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><br />If the book is available within the community, it will be delivered by courier or hand within seven days.</p>.<p class="bodytext">You can keep a book for a month. Once you are done with the reading, someone from 'Read A Book' will collect the book. No charges applied.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Some members own about 1,000 books, while others have just two or three.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Fiction is the mainstay of the community at the moment. Members keep track of all new publications and bestsellers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Some books popular in the network now are An Unsuitable Boy, Shantaram, Catcher in the Rye, The Fountainhead, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Train to Pakistan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Some readers want books in Kannada. We will go in for Kannada books if more people ask for it," said Kanica Jindal, founder of the community.</p>.<p class="bodytext">At the moment, her sheer love of books is fuelling the service, but readers are wondering whether it is sustainable.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Monish Koppa, partner, Rent A Book, says: "Some prefer paperbacks to Kindle e-books even in today's digital era. The pleasure of reading physical books is unique." </p>.<p class="bodytext">He believes sharing books is healthy and promotes discussion. Once a month, members come together offline and discuss their favourite books.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><br />Box</p>.<p class="CutOffHead">Interested?</p>.<p class="bodytext">* Go to Facebook page Rent A Book.</p>.<p class="bodytext">* Click on the 'Book Now' button.</p>.<p class="bodytext">* Enter the title of the book you want to read.</p>.<p class="bodytext">* It is couriered or hand-delivered to you.</p>.<p class="bodytext">* Read and return it after a month.</p>.<p class="bodytext">* No charges. It's completely free!</p>
