WELCOME TO THIRD SHELF
Third Shelf is the third place for a community placemaking library collection made up of our members' books and whatnot.
We're placemakers.
Maybe you are, too.
WHAT IS THIRD SHELF
Third Shelf is a library of placemaking media owned by our members. Via a booksharing app Libro we browse, request, borrow, and lend books from the shelves of any Third Shelf member. We organize local Book Swap events to exchange books with fellow members requested via the app, browse themed community collections, and have an all around good time with likeminded placemakers.
WHAT IS PLACEMAKING?
We define placemaking as any action that imbues a space with meaning. There are a lot of folks that do this professionally, like architects or urban planners. Maybe that describes you. But we believe it’s important to include anyone who puts their energy into shaping places. Roadside cleanup, painting a room, sewing seeds, throwing a block party, and even telling a story that enriches a place are some examples.
So, who is a placemaker?
You are if you choose to be!
WHY THIRD SHELF?
Third Shelf is a balm for a disconnected breed of doers. We envisioned this simple resource sharing tool as a social and educational infrastructure to bring likeminded people together, to aid in their growth as a community.
The problem with professional specialization today is our respective wealth of knowledge and experiences are typically siloed. When published in books, reports, journals, manuals, etc. they rarely leave the workplace, let alone the respective disciplines. But we’re complex creatures and our common places hold layers of significance that can never be captured by a single lens.
We all need to be better generalists, multidisciplinary and empathic in our daily placemaking practice. Third Shelf, we hope, can help us become the well-rounded contributors our communities need us to be.
SO, WHO ARE YOU
AND WHAT'S THE CATCH
Third Shelf is gift. It was dreamed up by imagineering duo Lena Walker and Reggie Mace of Placemakers Union (That’s us! Hi!)
It was made functionally possible by partnering software developer Gomoku to utilize Libro, their booksharing app built for fun during the pandemic lockdown so they could swap reading with neighbors. Libro is available for iOS and Android, doesn’t collect and sell your data, and is free to download and use.
The Third Shelf community started in Boise, Idaho, but is designed to grow and serve communities just about anywhere. Contact us if you're interested in setting up a Third Shelf community in your city.
The books and any other media which make up the library are owned by the members who voluntarily list and lend them to other members.
EVENTS
Boise Metro Area:
First Thursdays - Next Up March 6!
Idaho Smart Growth - 280 N. 8th Street Suite #210, Boise
6-8pm
Date TBA
Old Speak Bar - 3640 W Chinden Blvd, Garden City
SIGN UP
Sign up here to become a member of Third Shelf!
Set up your Libro account using the same email address you provide below and we'll add you to our library collection.
Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter!