#YearofReading
BPG Group
1. Book Swapping
Book swap booths can be set up at metro stations and even
shopping malls, where readers can pick up books in
exchange for a returned copy from another booth location.
People can be encouraged to donate books for a free public
transportation ticket at metro stations or free shopping
points such as on the ‘Al Shaya loyalty card’ at malls. Readers
can mark the origin of their book (if it is not marked already)
using a sticker from the booth, to mark the book’s journey
across Dubai, and possibly across the globe, adding rich
history to the whole exercise! This can be accompanied with
cozy (maybe sound-proof) reading corners amidst bustling
areas in the city.
Some possible modifications to the above idea could include
using a dispenser that picks a book for you at random (given
that it is hard for one to make a choice), which adds a delight
factor and an element of surprise. Secondly, a simple game
can be incorporated to ensure someone has read a returned
book, in exchange for free shopping points/RTA points. This
system will ensure people read, and can function on an
algorithm that firstly ensures that it can access information
on the book online before accepting it, and secondly can
devise questions at random based on information it finds
online. Readers can opt not to play the game and give up the
option to win rewards.
‘The Bibliomat’:
A random book dispenser
2. “Spotted: Reading”
Version 1
Inspired by a global instagram account
@hotdudesreading, an RTA representative can
be kept in charge of spotting commuting readers
to post their pictures on an exclusive account
with their consent, and in return for an offer on
public transport to be reclaimed. The exclusive
instagram account
(@DubaiReads/SpottedReadingDxB/GotTheBoo
ks) will be handled by an anonymous figure.
People will tag their friends when they recognize
them, creating buzz and engagement.
Version 2
We can create an anonymous instagram account
on the same lines, wherein good looking Dubai
readers are spotted, which will create even
more excitement as more people would want to
be featured on the page (to know if they made
the cut, ofcourse). The tone of the anonymous
account holder can be chatty and funny – similar
to the ‘Gossip Girl’ series, making reading more
trendy and fashionable.