BOOKMARKED!
The experience of social bookmarking is one that we encounter everywhere we visit online. Read an article; click the button to tweet about it to all your followers. Find an item of clothing you'd love to have; add it to your wishlist that is viewed by your family and friends. 'Like' a friend's photo on Facebook. The things we do online are broadcasted to anyone and everyone that will listen. Although these actions may be perceived as egotistical, as participants carefully craft how they'd like to be seen by others, I believe participation for the sake of social interaction does exist. This project experiments with social interactions in public space.
Starting with five cards, I placed them in some of my favorite books at a public library. As each of the books gets flipped through or checked out of the library, the cards are discovered. The card instructs the reader to place it in one of his or her own favorite books within the library. They are also asked to email in some information (what book it was found in, what book it was placed in, and the unique tracking number on the card).
The process is anonymous. The card does not reveal anything about the person who placed it. This takes away the ego, the concern for how he/she will be perceived, and brings it to a more personal level. The experience of discovering the card, the ritual of locating a familiar book among the shelves, placing the card, and wondering who will discover it next.
I am currently in the process of recreating this experiment at public and school libraries around the world. Results will be displayed at www.bookmarkedproject.com as they are gathered, creating a visual timeline of each card's travels.
Official BOOKMARKED! Website