Amsterdam library exhibit puts unread books in the spotlight

The Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (OBA), which is the Amsterdam Public Library, is hosting an exhibition called De Nullijst, which will start on the Oosterdokskade on August 6. This is an exhibition which will showcase unread books. Visitors of the exhibition can save these titles from destruction, the OBA said.

Of the 200,000 books in the above-ground OBA, 10 percent are moved to the underground depot yearly. There are 400,000 books. Books from the depot that have not been loaned out for a while end up on the nullijst. This list contains hundreds of titles that will probably be destroyed. The final decision about which copies go through the paper shredder rests with the librarian.

By showing books that have never been borrowed, OBA wants to draw attention to "this fascinating and underexposed aspect from the world of the book." Visitors can prevent a book from being destroyed by borrowing it. They can then take the book with them after the exposition ends on September 19.

This day was named the National Unread Book day by the Unread Book Club that was founded at the beginning of this year because the third Thursday in September is meant to be the day on which people read the least in the Netherlands.

The titles for which there is no interest even after the end of the exhibition will meet a "dignified end" during the finissage.