'Our buses are mobile libraries for passengers'

A bus operator has relaunched a mobile library scheme on board its vehicles to encourage passengers to swap their favourite reads.

Transdev's number 36 service from Leeds to Harrogate and Ripon has offered a book exchange shelf for the past nine years, but the library will now be restocked by Harrogate International Festivals as part of a partnership.

The project has been revitalised to mark the introduction of 19 new electric double-deckers on the Harrogate Bus Company's route.

Matt Burley, Transdev's marketing manager, said the "book club" allowed passengers to be more productive during long peak-time journeys.

As well as donations from the festival organisers, bus users can leave their own unwanted volumes on the shelf to be recycled.

Mr Burley added: "You never know what could be there, because people donate their own books too."

The festivals' chief executive, Sharon Canavar, added: "We wanted to do something special, and we have a great partnership with the bus company.

"We run three literary festivals each year and get sent a lot of books. It felt like a really good way to get books into people's hands when they are commuting.

"There are a whole lot of benefits, including stress relief, as well as the joy of reading."

Verity Blackburn, a passenger who had left some of her own books on the library shelf, said: "I think it's a lovely idea. It breaks up the tedium of the journey, especially if you're going from Harrogate to Leeds."

Ms Canavar added: "It's a really lovely way of just getting people back into reading, trying a new genre and really creating that sense of community, because it encourages people to talk to each other about their books."

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