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Book box scandal: Man clears out reading caterpillar in Boblitz!
In Boblitz, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, a man loots a book box. There is outrage at his disrespectful theft.
Book box scandal: Man clears out reading caterpillar in Boblitz!
In the tranquil town of Boblitz in the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district, an incident occurred on the successful weekend that really heated up the tempers of the residents. A man wearing eye-catching neon green high-visibility clothing was observed almost completely emptying a public book box. The incident took place on October 4th and caused quite a stir in the town.
The book box, also known as “Leseraupe”, was only opened in spring 2023 and is now a popular meeting place for reading enthusiasts. These publicly accessible bookcases offer the opportunity to exchange, borrow or take books free of charge and can now be found in large numbers in Germany - a total of 4040 have currently been recorded ( Wikimedia ). People generally have access to these facilities at any time and the principle is based on mutual trust and respect.
The incident and its consequences
The man in question had already stowed two boxes full of books in his car when attentive villagers approached him. His justification was bizarre: He believed the books belonged to no one and said he wanted to sell them or give them away as waste paper. Naturally, this caused outrage and led to local residents hitting back.
Barbara Thiele, the chairwoman of the local traditional association, filed a complaint and issued a ban on the house - after all, the book box is on church property and is looked after by the community. Interestingly, the man was not deterred and filed a complaint against the residents for insults and coercion.
The police have not yet been able to confirm a connection to the man described as the “advertiser master”, but the community is in excitement. The outrage over the incident also found its way onto social networks. The citizens agree: something like that is unacceptable!
The book box in public spaces
Public bookcases like the “Leseraupe” are not only places for exchanging books, but also a sign of community and sharing. In Berlin, for example, there are a large number of such cabinets, often in the form of old telephone booths or weatherproof shelves, in which a colorful collection of novels, specialist literature and children's books await new readers ( Berlin.de ). The idea of sharing is always at the forefront here - after reading, you can bring the books back or simply keep them, although exchanging something of equal value is definitely welcome.
The tragic and at the same time amusing spectacle in Boblitz may be unique in the region. However, the outrage among the villagers makes it clear how important the bookshelf, placed alone in the corner of the street and lovingly cared for, is for the community's cultural exchange. The police have now banned the man from entering the house - a measure that may not solve all the problems, but which further promotes integrative communication in the neighborhood.
It remains to be hoped that such incidents do not spoil the desire to share and that the “Leseraupe” remains a popular place for young and old. After all, there is nothing better than traveling through the pages of a book and sharing its stories with other people.