From BookCrossing to book cupboard....
How it all began:
BookCrossing, if you have never come across it before, is releasing books into the wild to be captured and read, then released again. The process can be followed by looking up each book's registered code to see where it started out and where it has travelled so far. In the summer months it is a great way to share free picture books for kids. https://www.bookcrossing.com/
But Fife isn't always sunny. And a more permanent home was needed to house grown-up books too so the idea of building a free book exchange somewhere in the village was formed.
The inside is a flat pack kitchen shelf/drawer unit, customised so the full width drawers were cut down to make room for a board book slot.
Next, a steep learning curve in how to build a heavy waterproof external housing for the shelves. The box is made from 18mm birch plywood, screwed together and sealed on all the joins with all weather sealant. Painted with outdoor weatherproof wood stain inside and out, and inner seams sealed with waterproof duct tape.
The base is made using 4 inch post, its base painted in bitumen paint to protect it from rot, as it would not be concreted in. When digging beneath the tree it became apparent that the root system was nearer to the surface than anticipated so a tiny raised flower bed with built in post supports was created to help hold the base in place and avoid any damage to the tree.
The area around the base was also earthed up with topsoil and compost mix then sprinkled with grass seed. The exterior housing was screwed to the base, inner shelves inserted and fixed in place by way of side batons and roof supports, then the roof added last. The roof overhangs the cupboard all the way round to lessen rain ingress and is also painted with four coats of bitumen paint, then floor tiles cut into roof shingles and stuck on overlapping.
A door, with polycarbonate glazing supported by three flush hinges, and a magnetic closure and an exterior handle to finish off. The fairies quickly moved in and gave their approval.
The artwork, designed to represent the trees around the location, was painted using acrylic paints, with lettering in metallic gold, and sealed with multiple thin layers of trade quality exterior, acrylic wood varnish.
And finally, a QR code and little hello message on the door,
and some BOOKS!! 📒📕📗📘
