If you have a book that you are bored of but is still in good condition you can swap it with one that has been left with 150 others in a red telephone box in a main square in Qormi.

The group that came up with the idea, called Book Box, is in the process of enrolling as an NGO and is working with local councils to set up similar small swap-libraries in other localities.

The aim is to promote reading with everyone welcome to exchange books in the knowledge that the books are taken care of as if they were one’s own.

The idea is simple: take a book to your nearest Book Box, browse the collection, choose the one you like and replace it with the one you brought along.

Although the idea is common in other places like Germany and France, in Malta it all started when English teacher Roberta Genovese, 23, was browsing Facebook and came across a picture of a red telephone booth stacked with books. She immediately contacted her friends and started working on the project.

The telephone boxes are made of wood.

Asked about safety precautions, Ms Genovese said CCTV cameras would be installed around the library in Qormi, located in Federico Maempel Square, and the booth would be open between 8am and 6pm.

“We decided to take the risk. Sometimes, if you don’t risk anything, you don’t get anything,” she added.

The group has also set up a website ( http://bookbox.com.mt ) where people can eventually find out which books are available at each location.