Zhang Qian

    zhqcindy@163.com

    BAILEY HU, from the United States, said her love for books makes her a volunteer at the Book Exchange held yesterday in the Shuiwei community center in Futian District.

    “During the bi-weekly events, people come by to browse the selection, return or checkout books, and discuss what they’ve been reading,” said Hu.

    The Book Exchange is run by volunteers, both Chinese and expats.

    It’s hard to find English books in Shenzhen and the Book Exchange at Shuiwei Village is a place to share and discuss books, said Hu.

    Sometimes there are special events, with an upcoming talk in May by a local author, said Hu.

    According to Hu, an American named Glen Cornell started the Book Exchange in 2014. The original concept was for members to simply trade and discuss their favorite reads.

    Visitors now have access to a library of almost 800 English books and 100 Chinese or foreign-language books. All have been donated or loaned by members of the community.

    Clay Hedges, a literature teacher at Shenzhen Middle School, also helps out at the Book Exchange. Hedges sorts the books into different categories before each event.

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    “The most books we have here are what we called ‘airport fiction,’ mostly thrillers people bought before catching an airplane,” said Hedges yesterday.

    A Longhua New Area resident surnamed Hua said she often takes part in the the Book Exchange, borrowing both Chinese and English books.

    “Apart from borrowing books here… I can meet a lot of new friends while reading interesting books,” said Hua, who borrowed three Chinese-language books.

    Hua said she had rarely visited local libraries to find English books, but Hedges said that the libraries in Shenzhen actually offer a wide range of books in English.

    The city organized hundreds of activities on April 23, Saturday, to mark World Reading Day.

    Besides all the libraries, 23 public spaces also carried out activities to advocate Shenzhen residents reading printed books.

    Among over 380 reading activities, more than 160 campaigns targeted teenagers. April 23 was the city’s first Minors’ Reading Day, to encourage children and teenagers to read more books.