These women started a book rail movement to share their love for reading

Scores of free books have been appearing on buses, trams and trains in Melbourne, Australia, for passengers to read and share with each other. It’s all part of Books On The Rail, a program started by copywriter Ali Berg and teacher Michelle Kalus to get strangers to pass around anything from children’s titles to classics. Huff Post reported.

She said there were about 300 books in circulation on Melbourne's public transport network, most of which were new releases.

"We have been really lucky to work with great publishers and authors who are sending new release books," she said.

According to the initiative’s website, people are free to read the books they find and return them to public transportation for others to discover.

Stickers on the books help indicate the titles that are part of the movement and also contain instructions on how to handle them.

When finished with the book, commuters are encouraged to leave a review for others on the site, or share their experience.

"We're happy to have a whole range of books. We're trying to keep it as diverse as possible."

Ms Kalus said her greatest fear was that the books would be thrown out by cleaning staff.

"We're hoping that most of the books go into safe hands, people who are excited to read the books."

“It’s a lot of fun and we’re just hoping to enrich people’s days,” Kalus told local radio station 774 ABC Melbourne.

Kalus and Berg’s say their idea was influenced by NYC’s Books On The Subway movement, as well as London’s Books On The Underground.

Nigerians, WYD??

ALSO READ: 11 fascinating books you should read before visiting Nigeria