Bus Stop Books

CLEMATIS CROSSING BUS STOP BOOK EXCHANGE

The odd little success of “Clembex” bus shelter has led to some interesting finds and coincidences. A few weeks ago there was an obituary in The Age for Itiel Bereson, an historian. He didn’t mean anything to me until I noticed that he had taught at Upwey High School and I know people who were students there. A week later, in the book exchange, appeared a book written by Itiel Bereson, called ‘ENGLAND: Yesterday and Today’. I couldn’t believe it! Begun with a ‘free-to-a-good-home’ box of university Spanish text books left in the bus shelter at the Puffing Billy crossing in Clematis in 2014, the volunteer book exchange has since taken off and has been included in the list of popular attractions around Emerald. Several anonymous caretakers look after the donations, keeping them tidy and in some sort of order and making sure the actual bus passengers are not deprived of their seats. There is also an annexe to the Book Exchange with a beautifully painted fridge and its shelves are well-stocked and out of the weather. Books come and go all the time. The pop up library has even more users particularly just now as more people are home, going for walks and bike-rides. Books on offer at the moment include novels by Lee Child, Stephen King, Tom Clancy, Ian McEwen, Stieg Larsson, a biography of Patrick White by David Marr, Fishing in Australia and New Zealand, World War ll, Lonely Planet’s Nepal, Canberra Gardens, The Victorian World of Helen Allingham, books on God for children, counting, first steps in reading, magazines on Australian Car Maintenance, Hot Rods, cooking and much more. With all the little libraries around, outside your neighbour’s front fence, near a walk-through in a shopping centre or the

smart one under the Shot Tower at Melbourne Central with a table and chairs, prove that people still read books. Emerald has several book clubs, apparently more than many other comparable places. On the train, before lockdown, most passengers would be on their phones yet two or three would be reading books. The following paragraph appeared in a previous issue of Emerald Messenger and amazingly, things are still the same: “It is heart-warming to experience something in modern life that is not supervised or controlled, does not involve money and gives pleasure to participants. Despite being very publicly available, the book exchange and its contents have never been vandalised.” Go Clembex! LIZ MIDDLETON