World Book Day: Discover TOLO, Chennai’s free book exchange project

A free book exchange project, TOLO (Take One Leave One) aims to remind one of the joy of delving into the pages of a book, anytime and anywhere

If you have been to a cafe in Chennai or even to one of the city’s recreational clubs, chances are that you have spotted a bookshelf replete with a variety, tucked away in a corner with a sign that says ‘Take One Leave One’.

The brainchild of Jaya Mahbubani and Shalini Khanna, TOLO (Take One Leave One), a reading initiative, was born in 2022 when the two found themselves with several books that had been donated in pristine condition. “I was a volunteer at a library in the city. Back then, people would regularly donate their books to me. When it came to a point where the library could not accommodate all the books I had received, Shalini and I decided to launch TOLO with the books we had,” Jaya, a Chennai-based author says.

TOLO is as simple as the name suggests. It is now at around 20 locations across the city including cafes, clubs and cultural institutions, where shelves have been set up and stocked with books. The genres provide a variety to choose from — think crime, romance and self help. This book exchange project is entirely free. There are many instances where one might find themselves early for a dinner or a lunch at a cafe, and wants to browse through a few pages of a book — TOLO seeks to facilitate this. Brew Room, Chamiers Cafe, Kup coffee roasters, Writers Cafe in Adyar and Egmore, Eatalica, Madras Boat Club, Alliance Francaise of Madras, and Ciclo Cafe are among some of the locations where you can spot these shelves.

“People who wish to read can pick up a book and take it with them. They could also leave behind a book of theirs for someone else to find. While it has been conceived as a book exchange project, there is absolutely no pressure on readers to leave a book behind in order to take one. I am confident that someone else will be more than happy to leave a couple of books on the shelf,” Jaya explains.

With a car full of books, Jaya says she checks on each location from time-to-time, replenishing shelves with the ones she has. Often teaming up with her friend and TOLO member Weena Pradhan, they meticulously stamp the books and arrange them in different locations. While some places do see a lot more books taken and left behind, some locations see less patronage.

At the Gandhi Nagar Club, a TOLO bookshelf has found a place at the all-day dining cafe. “The bookshelf is a welcome addition to our club. This is besides the already well-used library,” says K P Balakumar, vice president of the club.

Eager to expand to more locations and inviting suggestions from readers across the city for the same, Jaya says her motivations are simple. “I have always loved to read, and for me, books are a person’s best friend. Wherever you leave them, they are waiting for you and I want everyone to experience this joy,” she adds.