Be a Giver. Be a Part of World Book Night

Start the New Year by joining the CRRL in giving a wonderful book—or two or twenty—to those who may not be familiar with the joys of reading.  Sign up by January 23, 2013, to receive multiple copies of amazing books.  The only catch: they cannot be resold. Neither are they to keep for yourself or your bibliophile friends.  They are to be given away with joyful hearts, as an invitation to the world of reading.  There’s no charge to be a book giver, but you do need to apply.

What Is World Book Night?

For some time, countries have made an effort on World Book Day, April 23 (The UNESCO International Day of the Book AND Shakespeare’s birthday), to get books into the hands of young readers. In recent years, the effort has been expanded into World Book Night, to share books with adults and young adults. Last year was the United States’ first go at it. On April 23, 2012, U.S. book givers personally handed out half a million printed books in 5,800 towns and cities across the country. That night, about two dozen givers from the CRRL community went to places where people gather who might like books but perhaps were not in the habit of reading them or being able to get them.

Which Books Will Be Given Away This Year?

A panel of librarians, booksellers, and publishers have chosen 30 books that cover a wide range of interests.  Most were bestsellers and have been beloved by many readers. From those 30, a giver will have the option to choose his or her top three picks. Every effort will be made to ensure that they receive their first or second choices. Givers will have 20 copies of a single title that they have enjoyed to share with other people. Click here for a list of the 2013 World Book Night selections.

Want to Sign Up?

All you need to do is go to the organization’s site no later than January 23, 2013, fill out their application, and wait to be contacted. Your books will be sent to a local participating partner, such as the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, for pick up. You’ll be notified by February via email on the status of your application, and you’ll be invited to a reception during the week of April 15 to meet other book givers at your host organization. More resources and answers to frequently-asked questions are available online. Please join us to help make World Book Night a local literary success.