A dozen wooden houses have been set up by the Consistory in various areas of Estepona and its suburbs for book lovers to exchange or donate books. The City Council of Estepona has announced the creation of a Network of ‘Free Book Spaces’ in order to encourage reading by fostering the sharing of literary works. Macarena Diánez, the councilor responsible for Culture and Festivals, has revealed that the City Council has placed twelve wooden houses in different locations within the town and its outskirts, where people can freely pick up or drop off books. With the motto ‘Pick it up, read it and share it’, the City Council aims to promote reading and give books a second chance. Diánez highlighted that residents can utilize these spaces year-round to either leave books they believe others should read or discover works left by fellow book enthusiasts. The designated spots for this initiative include Plaza de Las Flores, the Botanical Park-Orquidario, two locations along the Paseo Marítimo, Parque de Las Mesas, and Central Park in the town center. In the suburbs, the wooden houses can be found in Cancelada, Isdabe, Nueva Atalaya, and the playground of Arroyo Enmedio. The municipal administration will also stock these spaces with books and is open to expanding the project if it garners positive feedback. Diánez urged citizens to engage with this new cultural endeavor, emphasizing the opportunity to breathe new life into books sitting idle on shelves at home. She further expressed hope that participants will exchange books spanning various genres and age groups, underlining the importance of involving different generations in this innovative initiative. This network is set to launch tomorrow in celebration of Book Day, bringing reading opportunities to passers-by in bustling public spaces. Additionally, the City Council has scheduled other activities for Book Day. At 5:30 pm, the Children’s Room ‘Elvira Lindo’ at the Municipal Library of the Padre Manuel Cultural Center will host the Dramatized Storytelling ‘The Book of Stories’ by La Gatika Producciones, offering a playful exploration of Disney’s classic tales through games, music, dance, and riddles, with the first 50 children in attendance receiving a complimentary story. Following this, at 6:00 pm, the Mirador del Carmen Contemporary Cultures Library will hold the Reading Club: ‘The best book in the world’ by Manuel Vilas, and at 8:00 pm, the Literary Workshop ‘How to read and write poems’ by poet and editor Ben Clark will take place, with free admission upon prior registration at bcc@estepona.es. On April 24, acclaimed writer Manuel Vilas, a finalist for the Planeta Prize and winner of the Nadal Prize in 2023, will present his book ‘The best book in the world’ at the Library of Contemporary Cultures at 8:00 pm.