"Where culture flourishes, happiness happens"
Book for Book

In order to foster reading culture in the community and disseminate the concept of “enriching life through reading”, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) has been carrying out the “Book for Book” activity since 2024, which has been well received and supported by citizens.  This year, the "Where culture flourishes, happiness happens" — Book for Book activity is to be held again in various  neighbourhoods in Macao starting in May. By creating a book exchange platform, IC aims to promote the circulation and sharing of reading resources within the community, allowing more citizens to experience the joy and value of reading.

Activity format

• Swapping one book for another.
• Interested residents may bring along books that comply with the book swap rules and hand them over to the staff at the activity venue, where they may select and exchange for the same number of books of their choice.

Time

Saturdays and Sundays from  May to June & October to December 2026, 12:00-18:00

Date/ Location / Time

 *Venues for October through December may be adjusted by the Organiser based on site availability and local conditions.
 

Enquiry

2856 7576 / 2884 3105 (during the opening hours of the libraries, except Monday morning)

Rules for the “Book for Book” activity of the Public Library of the Cultural Affair Bureau

In order to effectively handle the books collected for the “Book for Book” activity, the following rules has been formulated:

• The books collected will not be accepted for the “Book for Book” activity in the following circumstances:

1. Books that are lack of timely information or provide no academic or reference value. For example, magazines, booklets, further studies guides, textbooks, event pamphlets, cloth books for infants and toddlers, non-local yearbooks, law books and exam preparation materials;
2. Science and technology books that were published more than five years ago;
3. Computer books that were published more than three years ago;
4. Travel guides that were published more than two years ago;
5. Pirated books or those that are in violation of copyright laws;
6. Religious books that have a proselytizing nature;
7. Books with indecent or violent content;
8. Books that are worn out;
9. Incomplete book collections with missing volumes;
10. Books that are poorly bound, or with shedding or missing book pages;
11. Books that are defaced (including those with stamps, stickers, drawing or writing);
12. Copies of the books are limited to 5 volumes.

• Participants are required to comply with the rules for the “Book for Book” activity.
• Participants are required to attend the “Book for Book” activity in person at the designated location (postal delivery will not be accepted).
• Books may not be removed from the exhibition tables.
• Each resident may exchange up to 20 books (pieces) at a time during the activity.
• By swapping the books, the participants are deemed to have participated in the activity and relinquished their rights to the items concerned, and agreed to authorise the Department of Public Library Management of the Cultural Affairs Bureau to dispose of the aforementioned books.
• The Department of Public Library Management of the Cultural Affairs Bureau reserves the right of final disposal of the book and materials collected for the “Book for Book” activity, including distribution to libraries, transfer, elimination or other disposal methods.

In case of any matters uncovered herein, the Department of Public Library Management of the Cultural Affairs Bureau reserves the right to amend them and update the version in good time.