Keen bookworms already know that books are not boring – but now they are spreading that message by sharing and swapping their favourite reads.

The Bookswaps scheme, in which people bring a book to swap at Islington’s leisure centres, has already seen more than 500 fact and fiction works exchanged.

Now Cityread London, which exists to promote reading, has donated 40 copies of Sebastian Faulks’ London-set bestseller A Week in December to celebrate the official launch of the scheme.

Andy Ryan, director of Cityread London, said the scheme was “creating a buzz around reading and books in unexpected places across the borough”.

Cllr Janet Burgess, of Islington Council, added that anyone reading A Week in December would “get to know one of Britain’s great modern writers through his take on one of the world’s great cities”.

Bookswaps, which is being run by Islington Council and borough leisure provider Aquaterra, was officially launched at Highbury Pool and Fitness Centre in Highbury Crescent, Highbury – the latest leisure centre to take part in the scheme.

Penguin Books has also donated 100 publications.