Public bookcase

[7][8] Open bookcases are financed by a wide range of organisations (individuals, foundations, Lions Clubs, civic associations, and so on).

Vandalism has occurred in some places and, in successful cases, is countered by "bookcase sponsors" who devote their time and attention to care of the collection.

Surveyed users also indicated that they believed that regular use of public bookcases could function as an example for similar schemes for other desirable goods.

A small bookcase has been installed in Simon Square by the Friends of The Public Library, in collaboration with the Cohabitation/Society/Culture group of the local Agenda 21.

These groups stock the bookcase as needed from a so-called "book exchange", a larger public event which has taken place in the Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Haus in Oerlingsausen-South every Saturday since 2007.

Originally built on the site of a demolished library in a depopulated district of Magdeburg, the local civic association has moved much of the stock to a nearby vacant shop where more than 10000 donations are securely housed.

In New Zealand, several cities have installed "Lilliput Libraries" (after the diminutive fictional island in Gulliver's Travels) consisting of repurposed cupboards or cabinets outside private houses, which are essentially identical to public bookcases.