Launch of the 2nd Common Shelf is a success!

On April 29, we launched our second Common Shelf - this one on the plaza in front of the Creative Discovery Museum. We are extremely thankful for the support we have received from both the Creative Discovery Museum and the United Way, as they partnered with us to make this case a reality. Children from the pre-Kindergarten class at Northside Learning Center decorated the case with a colorful and lively assortment of bugs, butterflies, and letters. Local vendors including Meals by Mindy, Mellow Mushroom, and Sweet Peppers Deli contributed refreshments for the opening event. The case is already generating interest to the many children and parents who visit the museum each day. We hope others will continue to "take a book, leave a book, and tell a friend!"

Launch of the 2nd Common Shelf - Creative Discovery Museum

Join us this Thursday, April 29 at 11:00am for the ribbon-cutting and launch of our 2nd Common Shelf! This shelf will be on the plaza in front of the Creative Discovery Museum and will be focused on children's books. Refreshments will be provided! Bring a book and join us for the opening!

First Common Shelf Launch a Success!

Our First Common Shelf opened on Friday in Miller Plaza. Present were members of Leadership Chattanooga as well as representatives from RiverCity Company and St. Peter's School. Chattanooga Councilmen Andrae McGary and Peter Murphy spoke at the event. We are thrilled to finally see the hard work of our team and cooperation from all of our partners come to fruition. The bookshelf was overflowing with donations!


Check back soon - the next case launches at the Creative Discovery Museum on Thursday, April 29th!

First shelf opens at Miller Plaza on Friday, April 15th

Our first case will be opening at 11:00am on Friday, April 16th in Miller Plaza! We are thrilled to be partnering with RiverCity Company in the center of downtown for our first event! We couldn't have pulled this together without the help from many organizations and members of our community. The bookcase was crafted and donated by Collier Construction and then decorated by the Sprouts at St. Peter's Episcopal School. Signage is being donated by Joe Graham at Accent Signs. Books are being donated by McKay's Used Books & CD's, Anna Breckenridge, and other individuals. Many thanks to our sponsors who are providing refreshments for the event: Bleacher Bums, Meals By Mindy, Julie Darling Donuts, and Blue Coast Burrito.

Please come out and join us for our ribbon-cutting and launch of the first shelf - it should be a beautiful day! Don't forget to bring a book, and tell a friend!

How It Works

The idea is really simple!

1. Take a book - Browse through the selection, and if you see something that interests you, take it, read it and enjoy it!

2. Leave a book - This common shelf is meant to be a source of free books for any and all who would like to read. The only way it will continue is if those who enjoy visiting Common Shelf also share by bringing books to replenish the supply the next time they stop by.

3. Tell a friend - The more people with a vested interest in Common Shelf, the better!

How Our Journey Began

Common Shelf is the vision of a team of the 2010 Leadership Chattanooga program. The idea came to the team via a blog out of Hanover, Germany where an American studying abroad found their public bookcases intriguing. They wrote about it ending with this question, "Would you want something like this in your city?"

Our answer was YES! We are all passionate about Chattanooga and feel like our city is the perfect place to try this out. Thus we began our journey of placing two Common Shelves in public spaces here in Chattanooga for our citizens and visitors to enjoy. Our hope is that others in our community (and in other communities!) will be inspired to create a common shelf where they live.