National Poetry Library
Based at Southbank Centre, this is the largest public collection of modern poetry in the world.
As part of this year's London Literature Festival, the Southbank Centre is hosting a free book swap in the Royal Festival Hall foyer, celebrating the joy of reading and the underlying spirit of Southbank Centre's dedication to making the arts open to all.
Running throughout the duration of the festival (Wed 21 Oct - Sun 1 Nov), the Book Swap aims to encourage people of all ages to talk about books, share a book recommendation, and leave with a new book to enjoy.
Getting the swap started a whole host of artists who've been featured on Southbank Centre's programmes this year will be contributing books including: Dua Lipa, Anish Kapoor, Dominic Sandbrook, Elizabeth Day, Holly Blakey, Jacqueline Wilson, Marin Alsop, Max Porter, Michael Rosen, Nish Kumar and Tabitha Syrett.
How does the book swap work?
Located in the Royal Festival Hall foyer a special installation will invite the public to browse the bookshelves, relax and read. A broad range of books are welcome at the Book Swap – from fiction to poetry, non-fiction to memoir, and the swop includes special young adult and children's sections.
Visitors will be provided with a sticker and asked to write a short note on their recommendation, which will then be attached to the book. Once they have put the book on the bookshelf, they can choose a new book to take. They do not need to return the book, but are encouraged to pass it on when they have finished reading it.
Contributions from the celebrity book swappers will be secretly dropped into the Book Swap across the ten days that it is open.
Any leftover books will then be donated to the Upper Norwood Library Trust in Lambeth.
When and where is the book swap open?
The book swap is open Wed 21 Oct to Sun 1 Nov (closed Mon 26 and Tue 27 Oct).
Find it in the Level 2 Foyer Blue Side.
