Today's Read Team 
Potential Reintroduction of Book Swaps on London Underground
Transport for London (TfL) is exploring the possibility of reinstating book swap cabinets in the Underground, which were previously removed from around 40 Tube stations. This initiative is being pursued in collaboration with the London Fire Brigade.
The Popularity of Book Swaps
Book swap cabinets, which allowed commuters to exchange old books for new titles, quickly became a beloved feature among Londoners. Many users have expressed disappointment over the removal of this resource. Uli Lenart, a bookshop manager at Gay’s The Word in central London, emphasized the community value of these exchanges. “I regularly drop books off there after I’ve read them … it just seems like a sad loss,” Lenart remarked, noting the cabinet’s absence at the Oval station.
Fire Safety Concerns
According to TfL, the decision to remove the book swap stations stemmed from fire safety advisories provided by the London Fire Brigade. A representative from TfL conveyed, “We’d like to apologise to any of our customers that this impacts and we are reviewing our processes for these internally.” The organization is working alongside the Fire Brigade to evaluate if it might be safe to reintroduce book swaps at selected stations in the future.
Alternatives During the Review Process
In lieu of the removed cabinets, TfL is actively engaging with local communities to find alternative ways to facilitate book exchanges. This effort aims to ensure that people can continue sharing their love for reading despite the recent changes.
Community Perspectives
While safety is a priority, Lenart has raised questions about the rationale behind the removal, pointing out that stacks of newspapers are still present in various stations. “It just seems very odd that fire safety around the presence of maybe 20 or so books against a tiled wall in a tube station could be the legitimate reason why such a lovely and well-used public book-sharing service would be withdrawn,” he added.
Looking Ahead
The situation surrounding book swaps remains fluid as TfL anticipates feedback from the community and continues discussions with fire safety officials. Commuters hope for a swift resolution that brings back these beloved community resources.