Books at bus stops? That's the aim of Stuart McGechan.
Stuart is a chef by profession and history, having cooked in restaurants around the world. He has picked up a couple of Lamb & Beef Awards and prizes in other cooking competitions.
These days he is in his third year at UCOL in Whanganui, studying for a BDA (Bachelor of Design and Arts) with a Graphic Design major — a huge career shift.
As part of the course he has to come up with a community project — he has chosen to put books in bus stops, otherwise known as Book Stops.
He got the idea from a similar venture in Lyall Bay, Wellington. Just down from Queen Sally's Diamond Deli is a standard wooden bus shelter. In the top right corner is a small shelf loaded with books and magazines.
"I've always loved that idea and wanted to start that going somewhere, somehow. The opportunity arose through this particular assignment, doing a campaign for social good," he says.
There were official channels to navigate but Horizons Regional Council — which runs public transport — gave the green light and Whanganui District Council put him on to Jamie Waugh of Progress Castlecliff.
"Then I went to see the Red Cross bookshop and explained what I was doing." They supplied him with a box of books, suitable for all ages.
Stuart belongs to the Men's Shed and they gave him a hand with the shelving for the bus shelter. A special thanks goes to John Wicks, Men's Shed president.
Along with the shelf filled with books is a vertical design featuring the tag line "read, relax, return".
"The idea is for people to maybe pick up a book and put down their phone for a moment," says Stuart. "And rediscover the joy of books.
"If they take the book away, that's fine. It's not a precious thing, but hopefully they enjoy it and return it or maybe bring in another one to replace it." Stuart has produced a framed blurb to hang in the bus stop. It explains the whole book stop concept. H&A Print is helping out with printing and book marks.
