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Sunday, September 07, 2003

It was only a matter of time until someone defended BookCrossers

There is only an infinitesimal chance that the person who finds a 'released' book would have otherwise bought the same title, and the industry has long survived alongside second-hand bookselling and lending. If · Bookcrossing lasts, the number of books that are left and then picked up will remain small. However, the vast network of reviews, discussions and reading groups that have grown up around the site have helped fuel word-of-mouth bestsellers such as Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones. There's even evidence that Bookcrossing adds sales: aficionados of the site buy multiple copies of new books to randomly distribute.
· Lovely Crossing [Guardian]
· I see myself predominantly as a [RiverCrosser]
· Frumpy-looking librarian [SMH]

We do hope and trust here at the MD that the irony of the experiences encountered at the parliamentary library and parliamentary committees is not lost on our readers.
The Spokesman Who Speaks Too Much
If there is anything that is to be missed about the former Czech president Vaclav Havel it should be the dignity and professionalism of both spokesmen from the Office of the President, Ladislav Spacek, the president's spokesman, and Martin Krafl who worked for the former First Lady. With Petr Hajek in the same job, nothing will ever be the same.
· Bohemian Spinners [CzechMate]
· Antipodean Miniadvisors [AussieMate]