Readme.cc is a virtual library and a digital forum for sharing books. In a playful and interactive process, Readme.cc creates a virtual readers' community that mediates books and good reads across the boundaries of language and culture. Since May 2005, Readme.cc has been online. It has developed into a platform with partners in, e.g., Egypt, Germany, Denmark, England, France, Israel, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary and
the Czech Republic.

Without wanting to sound presumptuous, the idea for a virtual library grew out of the desire to act as a go-between between book culture and internet culture. We wanted to explore the world of literature and e-communities on one and the same plane in order to demonstrate that individualism and the growth of a community are in no way incompatible: the intimate experience of reading a book has always been followed by sharing the experience with other readers.

As the first independent, transnational and language portal for books, Readme.cc unites book tips from professionals with tips from non-professionals. This means that authors, scholars, artists and media experts, as well as those who just read for fun, post their personal reviews and present their own book collections in this virtual library. Readme.cc gives its members the opportunity to discuss books, question experts and inform themselves about cool books and events in other countries. In addition, Readme.cc organizes virtual meetings in Second Life and reallife meetings in libraries and bookshops.

Readme.cc virtual library was launched in 2002 by Walter Grond and Beat Mazenauer. The initial organization behind the project was "p&s melk", the European sister association of "p&s - netzwerk kultur". As the project progressed, two partners joined in, the Institut d'Allemand d'Asnières at the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris and the Collegium Budapest, an institute for advanced studies. In October 2004, these three organizations finally succeeded in getting the project accepted into the European Union's cultural funding programme. In August 2006, the EU Commission extended its support (within the scope of its Programme Culture 2000) for another three years. Readme.cc is expanding Europe-wide. New locations (e.g., Hamburg, London, Prague, Florence, Maribor/SLO and Copenhagen), new languages (e.g., Slovene, Czech, Italian, Danish), and new literatures are now spreading in an ever-more extensive assortment of book tips across Europe.