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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think that Look For A Book is wrecking the local park

18 replies

Venger · 04/08/2019 09:54

The idea of Look For A Book is that you hide a book somewhere for children to find, they're supposed to take it, read it, and then hide it somewhere else for another child to find. Lovely idea in theory, gets children reading, gets them outdoors, encourages sharing.

It's really taken off in our local area during these school holidays and we have a nice park near to us which has become somewhere a lot of people are hiding books. We've got my mum's dog this week so I was in the park early this morning walking him and there is plastic everywhere. People have been wrapping the books in those plastic poly-pockets to protect them but then when they're found the pockets are just thrown. Others have wrapped them in clingfilm. There were sheets of paper around too, printed instructions of how the idea works and what looked like checklists of who has had the book. There were also a couple of shredded books. I picked up and binned the bits I passed on my walk but no doubt there'll be more tomorrow.

I went on the FB group and I'm not the only one complaining about similar issues but they're all being shouted down for "being negative" and does a little bit of litter matter when it's making children happy. They're far more concerned about people taking more than one book at a time than they are about people chucking rubbish everywhere.

AIBU to think this is one of those plans that is good in theory but doesn't work in reality? And how can I raise this with the organisers without having my posts deleted for "being negative"?

OP posts:
nitgel · 04/08/2019 09:57

That sounds like a frankly odd idea !

FurrySlipperBoots · 04/08/2019 09:57

Eugh, that sounds dreadful! If everyone was nice and considerate it might work but there are just too may dicks around.

hormonesorDHbeingadick · 04/08/2019 09:59

That’s odd. Painting and hiding rocks is popular here but that’s mess free.

Venger · 04/08/2019 10:00

I much preferred it when the craze was for painted rocks.

OP posts:
FlowerTink · 04/08/2019 10:00

This has also just taken off in our area. A few people are rightly concerned about littering/animals but are currently being shouted down on the FB page for it, as its "negative " and "ruining the fun". So similar issues here

Floralnomad · 04/08/2019 10:00

Sounds like a bonkers idea to me and the litter is an issue especially plastic / cling film for any wildlife around .

BBBear · 04/08/2019 10:01

Tell them to go to the library - lots of books in there

museumum · 04/08/2019 10:04

Throwing the plastic pocket away is ridiculous! The whole idea shouldn’t stop because of idiots doing that. It’s like banning picnics because some people throw their crisp packets around.

I’d suggest going on fb or wherever this is arranged and just stressing that people must look after the plastic pocket and reuse the same plastic when they re-hide the book.

BeanBag7 · 04/08/2019 10:05

That's a really weird idea. My first thought when I read it was "what about when it rains" which they havent really thought through hence the plastic everywhere. Hopefully it will be a fad this year and then forgotten next year.

Is it a charity thing or just to "make kids happy"?

Venger · 04/08/2019 10:14

To make kids happy and improve literacy.

I commented and it has been deleted as they don't want negativity in the group. That tells me all I need to know.

Next step is an email to the local councillor about the increased litter.

OP posts:
bigchris · 04/08/2019 10:17

It's the parents

I'd look disapprovingly and say aren't you going to pick that up, the bin is over there

bigchris · 04/08/2019 10:18

The library is running a space race, read 6 books and you get a certificate and a medal

Maybe post a link of their Facebook page

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 04/08/2019 10:23

It's the parents

I doubt it’s all parents. Just the subset of parents who are dicks. There’s no particular reason why this should leave any litter.

growlingbear · 04/08/2019 10:26

The group needs to sort out how to dispose of the wrapping safely. On sunny days, books can just be left in tree branches or on park benches - easy to find and no need for wrapping. If wrapped they should come with a notice, "Take this wrapper home with you." It's a great idea and shouldn't become a problem just because people are being stupid about rubbish disposal.

EssentialHummus · 04/08/2019 10:32

It could work if they take wrappers home with them and re-use, but actually my first thought reading this was that there’s an exciting place called the library!

Venger · 04/08/2019 11:43

Libraries were mentioned during the complaints about people taking more than one book. Someone posted that they saw a child take four books and it wasn't right, some people pointed out that perhaps the child didn't have any books at home and it doesn't matter if they took four because they'll either be kept and enjoyed or will be hidden again for other children to find at a later date. Other people then said that if a family is too poor to own very many books they can go to the library or to a charity shop instead of taking the ones that have been hidden for other children to enjoy.

It makes no sense and people are getting so territorial over it. There is lots of handwringing too about books being found but no photographs posted on Facebook by the finders and people saying they're at such and such a location but there are no books and the children are gutted.

People are weird.

OP posts:
Love51 · 04/08/2019 11:49

The rock page got a bit like this. If you put something out into the universe as part of a game, you relinquish control of that thing. You can't insist that the finder posts on social media or does anything particular. You can't force children to take only one at a time. It is both literally and figuratively out of your hand!

bigchris · 04/08/2019 20:06

What is the name of this fb group, maybe we should all post !!

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